Substitute House Bill No. 7091 aims to improve the oversight and effectiveness of energy conservation programs managed by the Energy Conservation Management Board (ECMB). The bill repeals subsection (d) of section 16-245m and introduces new requirements for electric and gas companies to submit a combined Conservation and Load Management Plan every three years. This plan must include a detailed budget for energy efficiency initiatives, a goal to weatherize 80% of residential units by 2030, and a target to reduce energy consumption by 1.6 million MMBtu annually. The plan will require approval from the ECMB and the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, with funding mechanisms established through conservation adjustment mechanisms. Additionally, the bill mandates annual audits of program cost-effectiveness by the Auditors of Public Accounts, replacing the previous review process by the DEEP commissioner.

The bill also introduces significant changes to the evaluation processes of municipal electric energy cooperatives, prohibiting them from voting on board plans and budgets related to program evaluations. It establishes an independent evaluation administrator to oversee the evaluation process, ensuring the use of statistically valid monitoring techniques. Evaluation reports must be filed with the board and the Auditors of Public Accounts, with provisions for public posting and stakeholder comments. Furthermore, the bill shifts the responsibility for cost-effectiveness evaluations from the DEEP commissioner to the Auditors of Public Accounts, who will also conduct annual audits of the ECMB's programs. The bill outlines the need for collaboration among various stakeholders and includes provisions for hiring expert consultants to assist in the evaluation process. The changes are set to take effect on October 1, 2025.