(a)There is hereby established the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund.
(b)Each individual affected energy provider may determine how best to fund activities necessary to achieve the energy savings goals within its service territory and implement programs as it sees fit. Should an affected energy provider determine that a charge is unnecessary, a plan shall be submitted that demonstrates how the goals will be achieved. Should an affected energy provider determine that an energy efficiency charge is necessary to achieve the goals, it may make such a recommendation in the Workgroup study that is consistent with this section.
(c)Based upon the recommendation or recommendations of the Workgroup, the Secretary may implement a charge to be collected from each energy customer by its affected energ
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(a) There is hereby established the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund.
(b) Each individual affected energy provider may determine how best to fund activities necessary to achieve the energy savings goals within its service territory and implement programs as it sees fit. Should an affected energy provider determine that a charge is unnecessary, a plan shall be submitted that demonstrates how the goals will be achieved. Should an affected energy provider determine that an energy efficiency charge is necessary to achieve the goals, it may make such a recommendation in the Workgroup study that is consistent with this section.
(c) Based upon the recommendation or recommendations of the Workgroup, the Secretary may implement a charge to be collected from each energy customer by its affected energy provider (“energy efficiency charge”), which may not vary by customer class and is consistent with this section.
(d) Any energy efficiency charge for energy customers of affected electric energy providers shall be imposed on a per kilowatt-hour basis and may not exceed a level that would result in an average charge in excess of $0.58 per month per residential electric customer.
(e) Any energy efficiency charge for energy customers of affected natural gas energy providers shall be imposed on a therm basis and may not exceed a level that would result in an average charge in excess of $0.41 per month per residential natural gas customer.
(f) Each affected energy provider shall remit any energy efficiency charges collected pursuant to this chapter to the DEO to be deposited in the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund on a monthly basis. Funds shall be deposited in the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund by the DEO in separate accounts for each affected energy provider and shall, to the extent feasible, and except as otherwise provided in paragraph (j)(3) of this section below, be earmarked for use on behalf of energy customers of the affected energy provider from which they are collected in collaboration with the affected energy providers. Funds deposited in the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund shall not be funds of the State, shall not be available to meet the general obligations of the government, and shall not be included in the financial reports of the State. The DEO shall submit to the General Assembly and the Governor by May 30 of each year a written accounting of monies received from the fund during the previous year and how those moneys were used or disbursed during that year.
(g) Costs associated with achieving the energy savings goals are not recoverable through Public Service Commission proceedings.
(h) All revenue credited to the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund shall be used solely to fund the programs mandated by this chapter.
(i) All interest earned on moneys deposited in the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund shall be credited to the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund and shall be used solely for the purposes designated in this chapter.
(j) All moneys deposited into the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund shall be transferred in their entirety on July 1 of each year to the DEO to fund the programs mandated by this chapter. The DEO shall distribute the funds in each separate account established pursuant to subsection (f) of this section to the following uses:
(1) Seventy-five percent of the assessment is provided to the SEU and shall be used to further the goals and activities of the SEU including, but not limited to, the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy financing pursuant to § 8059(f)(3) of Title 29.
(2) Twenty percent of the assessment is provided to the Weatherization Assistance Program.
(3) Five percent of the assessment is provided to the Secretary and DEO to cover costs incurred in developing and implementing the EERS.