SENATE, No. 1984

By Mr. Timilty, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1984) of James E. Timilty for legislation relative to energy conservation measures. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

AN ACT relative to energy conservation measures

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

 

SECTION 1. Section 19 of Chapter 25 of the General Laws is hereby amended in the second paragraph by inserting, after the sixth sentence, the following sentences —

Energy efficiency activities eligible for funding under this section shall include geothermal heating and cooling systems with a minimum of 100 tons of heating-cooling capacity.  A distribution company shall conduct good faith negotiations with the consumer to determine energy savings of said systems.  In the event that an agreement cannot be effected through such good faith negotiations, the parties shall submit to arbitration and such arbitration shall be performed by the department of telecommunications and energy or by a state-certified professional arbitrator or arbitration firm appointed by said department and operating in accordance with any applicable rules and regulations.

SECTION 2. Section 3 of Chapter 25A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of ““Energy management services”, the following definition —

“Energy savings”, a measured reduction in fuel, energy, operating or maintenance costs resulting from the implementation of one or more energy conservation measures or projects, provided that any payback analysis to evaluate the energy savings of a geothermal energy system to provide heating, cooling or water heating over its expected life-span shall include gas and electric consumption savings, maintenance savings and shall use an average escalation rate based on information compiled by the US Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration for gas and electric rates.