§8235a Approval of plans for prototype residential energy efficiency programs and provision of financial assistance for such programs

Summary

The Secretary can approve no more than 4 state or local plans to run prototype home energy‑saving programs and can give money to help carry them out. To be approved, a plan must be applied for and follow the rules. The plan must have a public utility hire one or more outside companies (not the utility’s affiliates) to run the program in part of the utility’s service area. The utility must pick contractors in a fair, open way, pay a set price for each unit of energy saved based on the value to the utility, include a method to measure the energy saved, and make sure the required contract terms can be enforced. If the utility is regulated, the state regulator must approve the contract, the selection process, the payment plan, and the measurement method. Any contractor must offer every homeowner or occupant in the chosen area a free inspection that explains what measures will be installed, the likely energy‑cost savings, and simple behavior changes that save energy and their expected savings. With the owner’s approval, the contractor must install the agreed measures promptly and give a written warranty that fixes defects found within one year at no charge.