(a) For purposes of this section, (1) “clean energy improvements” means improvements from the installation of clean energy, as defined in subsection (a) of section 16-245n, and shall include smart meters, provided such improvements are applicable to a residential dwelling unit of a customer of an electric distribution company or gas company, and (2) “electric distribution company” and “gas company” have the same meanings as provided in section 16-1.

(b) On or before April 1, 2014, the Energy Conservation Management Board and the Connecticut Green Bank, in consultation with the electric distribution companies and gas companies, shall establish a comprehensive residential clean energy on-bill repayment program financed by third-party private capital managed by the Connecticut Green Bank. Such program shall have the following features:

(1) To establish a process for qualifying clean energy improvements;

(2) To prioritize clean energy improvements for cost-effectiveness;

(3) To reduce peak electricity demand;

(4) To assist customers of electric distribution companies or gas companies in accessing incentives, other cost savings and financing for clean energy improvements, including natural gas furnaces or boilers that meet or exceed federal Energy Star standards and propane and oil furnaces and boilers that are not less than eighty-four per cent efficient;

(5) To identify knowledgeable contractors for installation of clean energy improvements and to ensure successful installation of such improvements;

(6) To finance clean energy improvements to the extent the tenor of such financing repayment does not exceed the average expected life of such improvements;

(7) To provide that the repayment amount plus the anticipated periodic customer bill after installation of the clean energy improvements does not exceed the anticipated periodic bill for electric or gas service without installation of such improvements, including no energy savings improvements;

(8) To authorize the disconnection for nonpayment by the customer of any financing repayment amount, except during the pendency of any complaint, investigation, hearing or appeal challenging the on-bill repayment loan, terms, accuracy or related matters, with any on-bill repayment amount treated as part of the customer's utility account subject to the protections provided in sections 16-262c, 16-262d, 16-262g to 16-262i, inclusive, and 16-262x;

(9) To establish program guidelines to address the ramifications of on-bill repayment and the risks associated with disconnection of service of low-income and hardship customers;

(10) To provide the assignment of repayment obligations to subsequent owners of the dwelling unit upon the development by the Energy Conservation Management Board and the Connecticut Green Bank of timely written notice guidelines to subsequent owners, except on-bill repayment amounts may not be directly charged to a tenant of a dwelling unit by a utility company pursuant to section 16-262e or a receiver pursuant to sections 16-262f, 16-262t, 47a-14h and 47a-56a to 47a-56k, inclusive; and

(11) To provide that the on-bill repayment billing and collection services shall be available without regard to whether the energy or fuel delivered by the utility is the customer's primary energy source.

(c) The guidelines for the comprehensive residential clean energy on-bill repayment program pursuant to subdivisions (9) to (11), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section shall be subject to review and approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, which review shall commence upon filing such guidelines with the authority and the review shall be deemed complete not later than ninety days after such filing. Such review shall be conducted in an uncontested proceeding.

(d) On-bill repayment for any loan that is part of the comprehensive residential clean energy on-bill repayment program established pursuant to this section and utilized to improve efficiency or clean energy improvements for provision of heat to a dwelling unit shall be treated as part of the primary heating expense for the customer for purposes of (1) any energy assistance program funded or administered by the state or under any plan adopted pursuant to section 16a-41a, and (2) any matching payment program plan pursuant to subdivisions (4) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (b) of section 16-262c.

(P.A. 13-298, S. 58; P.A. 14-94, S. 29; 14-134, S. 20.)

History: P.A. 13-298 effective July 8, 2013; pursuant to P.A. 14-94, “Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Connecticut Green Bank” in Subsec. (b), effective June 6, 2014; P.A. 14-134 amended Subsec. (c) by making a technical change, effective June 6, 2014.