The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 19 of chapter 25 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-
Beginning on march 1, 2006 and for a period of 10 years thereafter the department shall require a mandatory charge per therm for all consumers of natural gas in the commonwealth, to fund energy efficiency activities including, but not limited to, demand-side management programs. Said charge shall be in the amount of 10 mills ($0.01) per therm for calendar years 2006 through 2015, inclusive; provided, however, that in authorizing such programs the department shall ensure that they are delivered in a cost-effective manner utilizing competitive procurement processes to the fullest extent practicable. At least 20 per cent of the amount expended for residential demand-side management programs by each distribution company in any year, and in no event less than the amount funded by a charge of 1 mill per therm, shall be spend on comprehensive low-income residential demand-side management and education programs. A distribution company shall not be allowed to assess any other charge relative to energy efficiency programs which would exceed the levels permitted herein. The low-income residential demand-side management and education programs shall be implemented through the low-income weatherization and fuel assistance program network and shall be coordinated with all electric utility companies in the commonwealth with the objective of standardizing implementation. On January 1, 2015, the division of energy resources shall, in order to determine if energy investments shall continue beyond calendar year 2015, review then-current market barriers, experience with competitive markets, and related environmental and economic goals. If said division determines that the continued operation of the programs delivers cost-effective, energy efficiency services, said division shall file, with the clerk of the house of representatives of the general court, legislation to extend for a time certain the authorization contained herein for such a charge to fund energy efficiency activities.