Powers and duties of director generally

The director shall have and may exercise the following powers and duties: (1) To adopt, modify, repeal, and promulgate, after consultation with all affected parties and due notice and public hearings held in accordance with and established pursuant to Chapter 13 of Title 50, the ‘‘Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,’’ rules and regulations for the establishment and implementation of the Residential Conservation Service program. The initial proposed regulations shall be based upon the state plan for the Residential Conservation Service as approved by the United States Department of Energy and shall include provisions for: (A) Identification of covered utilities; 424 Page: 425 Job Path: @mfgmic/west/stcodes/ga/repl/qj04040.63 Date: 06/30/04 Time: 20:56:11 0000 42051-21 46-4A-4 (QS) GA 04 RV34 -- 3rd RUN PROVISION OF ENERGY CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE 46-4A-5 (B) Utility responsibilities, such as: (i) Providing program information for customers; (ii) Performance of on-site energy audits; (iii) Arranging financing and installation; (iv) Distribution of lists of contractors, suppliers, and lenders; (v) Conducting inspections of installed measures; (vi) Determining qualifications of auditors and inspectors; and (vii) Establishing record keeping, financial accounting, and reporting requirements; (C) Development and maintenance of master records of contractors, suppliers, and lenders; (D) Consumer complaint mechanisms; (E) Utility supply, installation, and financing of energy products; (F) Coordination with affected agencies, especially the commission and the Office of Consumer Affairs; (G) Compliance and enforcement procedures; and (H) Other program elements required by federal law; (2) To administer and enforce this chapter and all rules and regulations and orders promulgated hereunder; (3) To receive and administer any federal funding available for the purposes of this chapter; and (4) To amend the regulations promulgated under this chapter to conform to any future changes in the federal law and regulations governing the program. (Ga. L. 1981, p. 1258, § 4.) 46-4A-5. Inspections and investigations by director; enforcement of chapter by director. (a) The director shall have the authority to investigate the activities of the covered utilities in order to ascertain whether they are in compliance with this chapter and the rules and regulations and orders promulgated hereunder. Such investigations may include routine inspections and inspections arising as a result of information indicating that a violation may have occurred. (b) The director shall have the authority to take any action authorized by this chapter which he deems necessary to enforce this chapter. (Ga. L. 1981, p. 1258, § 7.) 425 Page: 426 Job Path: @mfgmic/west/stcodes/ga/repl/qj04040.63 Date: 06/30/04 Time: 20:56:11 0000 42051-21 (QS) GA 04 RV34 -- 3rd RUN 46-4A-6 PUBLIC UTILITIES, ETC. 46-4A-9 46-4A-6. Proceedings before the director.