The proposed General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5248 aims to improve energy efficiency and transmission planning in Connecticut by introducing several key provisions. It allows the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, to endorse a voluntary energy efficiency certification program established by a third-party entity if the federal Energy Star program is eliminated. The bill also stipulates that efficiency standards will take precedence over the State Building Code in cases of conflict and mandates periodic reviews of these standards based on cost-effectiveness and energy conservation goals. Additionally, it modifies existing regulations regarding product certification, removing the requirement for manufacturers to certify products without California standards and instead requiring documentation of compliance with various efficiency programs.

Furthermore, the bill enhances regulatory oversight by empowering the Commissioner to conduct inspections of distributors and retailers of certain products and to establish a process for anonymous reporting of potential violations, with civil penalties of up to $250 for violators. It also revises the criteria for the Connecticut Siting Council to determine public need for electric facilities, requiring consideration of future electric grid reliability needs and supporting studies from relevant authorities. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026.