§10120. Commission oversight of Efficiency Maine Trust

1.  Performance metrics.  The trust shall incorporate performance metrics in the triennial plan. The performance metrics must define the electricity, natural gas and heating fuel savings targets established in section 10104, subsection 4, paragraph F and specify the metrics for assessing progress in meeting the targets. The commission shall ratify performance metrics incorporated in the triennial plan if it finds that these metrics satisfy the requirements of this chapter, including the principles described in section 10104, subsection 2, and are in the public interest. The commission and the trust may revise one or more of the performance metrics in the triennial plan at any time by mutual agreement.

[PL 2019, c. 313, §11 (AMD).]

2.  Regulation.  The trust may not expend any funds from assessments made under this chapter until the commission approves the triennial plan. The commission upon recommendation of the Public Advocate or the Attorney General may open an investigation of practices or acts of the trust. If the commission, upon investigation, finds that the trust has failed to comply with any requirement of this chapter or other requirements of law in the use or expenditure of any funds from assessments made under this chapter, the commission may issue an appropriate order directing the trust to take necessary actions to bring the trust into compliance with the law and may suspend or limit the authority of the trust to expend or encumber any funds derived from assessments made under this chapter until the commission finds the trust has come into compliance with the law. The commission may adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

[PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. B, §3 (NEW).]

3.  Oversight and evaluation fund.  The commission shall establish an oversight and evaluation fund to be used solely to defray the commission's projected costs of ongoing oversight of the trust's programs and results, including but not limited to reviewing the trust's calculation of program costs and benefits, measurement and verification procedures and program evaluations and reviewing and approving the triennial plan. The commission may use funds to contract with expert 3rd-party resources to provide technical assistance or impartial evaluation of the performance of energy efficiency programs administered by the trust. The commission may assess the trust an amount not to exceed 1% of the total funds administered by the trust, and the trust shall transfer that amount to the commission to be deposited into the oversight and evaluation fund. Any interest on funds in the oversight and evaluation fund must be credited to the oversight and evaluation fund and any funds unspent in any fiscal year must either remain in the oversight and evaluation fund to be used for the purposes specified in this subsection or be transferred to the trust for deposit in appropriate program funds.

[PL 2013, c. 369, Pt. A, §26 (AMD).]

4.  Regional analysis of avoided costs.  The commission shall participate in any New England-wide process to establish a common analysis for determining the avoided costs of energy efficiency resources. The commission shall, at a minimum, provide input on the scope of work for any analysis, provide information specific to the State that may be useful for the analysis and review and provide feedback on drafts or other regional work products. The trust shall pay that portion attributable to the State of the cost of developing an avoided cost analysis. This subsection does not limit the ability of the trust to participate in the development of a regional avoided cost analysis.

[PL 2019, c. 313, §12 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. B, §3 (NEW). PL 2013, c. 369, Pt. A, §26 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 313, §§11, 12 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 313, §§11, 12 (AMD).