Text to be removed highlighted in red.
1 New Paragraph; Support Personnel to the Public Utilities Commission; Office of the Consumer Advocate; Position Created. Amend RSA 363:28 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:
VII. There is hereby created within the office of the consumer advocate the position of energy efficiency advocate which shall be funded by moneys from the energy efficiency fund established under RSA 125-O:23. The energy efficiency advocate shall be responsible for:
(a) Educating the public about the benefits of making energy efficiency improvements to homes and businesses.
(b) Working with New Hampshire municipalities, school districts, government agencies, charitable organizations, and business and residential energy users.
(c) Assisting in the development of curricula for schools to educate students about the importance of energy efficiency.
2 Use of Energy Efficiency Fund RSA 125-O:23 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
125-O:23 Energy Efficiency Fund and Use of Auction Proceeds.
I. There is hereby established an energy efficiency fund. This nonlapsing, special fund shall be continually appropriated to the commission to be expended in accordance with this section. The state treasurer shall invest the moneys deposited therein, as provided by law. Income received on investments made by the state treasurer shall also be credited to the fund. All programs supported by these funds shall be subject to audit by the commission as deemed necessary. A portion of the fund moneys shall be used to pay for commission and department costs to administer this subdivision, including contributions for the state's share of the costs of the RGGI regional organization. No fund moneys shall be used by the commission or the department to contract with outside consultants. The commission shall transfer from the fund to the department such costs as may be budgeted and expended, or otherwise approved by the fiscal committee of the general court and the governor and council, for the department's cost of administering this subdivision.
II. All amounts in excess of the threshold price of $0.10 for any allowance sale shall be rebated to all retail electric ratepayers in the state on a per-kilowatt-hour basis, in a timely manner to be determined by the commission.
III. All remaining proceeds received by the state from the sale of allowances, excluding the amount used for commission and department administration under paragraph I, shall be allocated by the commission to fund the office of the energy efficiency advocate created under RSA 363:28, VII.
IV. The energy efficiency advocate shall file an annual report with the office of energy and planning, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the chairman of the public utilities commission. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Program expenditures.
(b) The number of customers served by the program.
(c) Other data as required by the commission in order to determine program effectiveness.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 New Paragraph; Support Personnel to the Public Utilities Commission; Office of the Consumer Advocate; Position Created. Amend RSA 363:28 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:
VII. There is hereby created within the office of the consumer advocate the position of energy efficiency advocate which shall be funded by moneys from the energy efficiency fund established under RSA 125-O:23. The energy efficiency advocate shall be responsible for:
(a) Educating the public about the benefits of making energy efficiency improvements to homes and businesses.
(b) Working with New Hampshire municipalities, school districts, government agencies, charitable organizations, and business and residential energy users.
(c) Assisting in the development of curricula for schools to educate students about the importance of energy efficiency.
2 Use of Energy Efficiency Fund RSA 125-O:23 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
125-O:23 Energy Efficiency Fund and Use of Auction Proceeds.
I. There is hereby established an energy efficiency fund. This nonlapsing, special fund shall be continually appropriated to the commission to be expended in accordance with this section. The state treasurer shall invest the moneys deposited therein, as provided by law. Income received on investments made by the state treasurer shall also be credited to the fund. All programs supported by these funds shall be subject to audit by the commission as deemed necessary. A portion of the fund moneys shall be used to pay for commission and department costs to administer this subdivision, including contributions for the state's share of the costs of the RGGI regional organization. No fund moneys shall be used by the commission or the department to contract with outside consultants. The commission shall transfer from the fund to the department such costs as may be budgeted and expended, or otherwise approved by the fiscal committee of the general court and the governor and council, for the department's cost of administering this subdivision.
II. All amounts in excess of the threshold price of $0.10 for any allowance sale shall be rebated to all retail electric ratepayers in the state on a per-kilowatt-hour basis, in a timely manner to be determined by the commission.
III. All remaining proceeds received by the state from the sale of allowances, excluding the amount used for commission and department administration under paragraph I, shall be allocated by the commission to fund the office of the energy efficiency advocate created under RSA 363:28, VII.
IV. The energy efficiency advocate shall file an annual report with the office of energy and planning, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the chairman of the public utilities commission. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Program expenditures.
(b) The number of customers served by the program.
(c) Other data as required by the commission in order to determine program effectiveness.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.