§ 135-N — Nonresidential energy audits

§ 135-n. Nonresidential energy audits. 1. The commission shall be\nauthorized to require a utility, upon the request of an owner of a farm,\nsmall business or nonprofit organization, to conduct an energy audit of\na farm or a farmstead, or of a commercial building occupied by such\nbusiness or organization and promptly provide the results of the audit\nand any information and technical assistance that is necessary to\nimplement the audit's recommendations to the owner, small business or\nnon-profit organization. No charge shall be made for such audits. In\naddition, each utility shall inform its customers in writing that an\nenergy audit is available without charge for eligible farms, small\nbusinesses and nonprofit organizations. Such owner shall be eligible for\nonly one energy audit for each farm or commercial building; provided\nhowever, that a second limited audit may be provided if new conditions\njustify a second audit, including but not limited to, a change in the\npurpose for which the farm or commercial building is used.\n 2. A utility may contract with a qualified not-for-profit organization\nto promote and perform energy audits; provided, however that a utility\nshall be prohibited from compensating such organization in an amount in\nexcess of what the utility's own costs would be of performing such\nservices. In addition, such energy audits shall be promoted and\nperformed, to the extent feasible, through or in coordination with other\nexisting federal, state and local programs designated for farms, small\nbusinesses and nonprofit organizations.\n 3. Any criteria established by the commission for the energy audits\nand eligibility for audits required under this section shall be adopted\nafter consultation with the state energy office and opportunity for\ncomment by other interested parties.\n