Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§8235c Approval of applications for plans for prototype residential energy efficiency programs

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 91— - NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION POLICY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CONSERVATION › Part Part C— - Residential Energy Efficiency Programs › § 8235c

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may approve an application for a prototype residential energy efficiency program only if it has written approval from the utility that will sign the contract, from the state regulator when the utility is regulated, and from the Governor or a state agency authorized to approve plans. The application must be published and a public hearing held with notice so utility officials, suppliers or installers, and the public, including ratepayers, can comment, and the application may be amended after the hearing. In deciding, the Secretary must consider likely energy savings, whether those savings will cover the estimated costs to utilities, effects on competition in the utility’s service area, and other appropriate factors.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §8235c

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary may approve an application submitted under section 8235b of this title for a plan establishing a prototype residential energy efficiency program only if—

(1)the application is approved in writing—

(A)by the public utility which is to enter into the contract under the plan;

(B)by the State regulatory authority having ratemaking authority over such public utility, in the case of a regulated utility; and

(C)by the Governor (or any State agency specifically authorized under State law to approve such plans) of the State whose government is submitting the application (if the application is submitted by a State government) or of the State in which the local government is located (if the application is submitted by a local government); and

(2)the application has been published, a public hearing on the application has been conducted, after notice to the public, at which representatives of the public utility which is to enter into the contract under the plan, persons engaged in the supply or installation of residential energy conservation measures, and members of the public (including ratepayers of such public utility and other interested individuals) had an opportunity to provide comment on the application, and any amendments to the application, which may be made to take into account the proceedings of the hearing, are made.

(b)The Secretary shall take into consideration in approving an application under subsection (a) for a plan establishing a prototype residential energy efficiency program—

(1)the potential for energy savings from the demonstration of the program;

(2)the likelihood that the value of the energy saved by public utilities under the program will be sufficient to cover the estimated cost of the energy conservation measures to be supplied and installed under the program;

(3)the anticipated effects of the program on competition in the portion of the service area of the public utility designated in the contract entered into under the plan; and

(4)such other factors as the Secretary determines are appropriate.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 8235c

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73