This bill amends existing legislation to prohibit electric and gas public utilities from implementing rate adjustment mechanisms that would allow them to recover lost revenue due to decreased energy usage resulting from customer participation in energy efficiency, peak demand reduction, conservation, or renewable energy programs. Specifically, the bill states that utilities shall not be eligible for incentives that provide additional revenue to account for lost revenue from reduced consumption. This change aims to ensure that consumers who engage in energy-saving practices are not penalized through increased rates that offset the utilities' revenue losses.

The bill also emphasizes the need for the Board of Public Utilities to focus on consumer interests rather than utility profits. It reflects concerns raised during a committee meeting regarding the fairness of allowing utilities to charge consumers for revenue losses incurred from energy-saving initiatives. By eliminating the ability for utilities to recover these losses through rate adjustments, the bill seeks to encourage energy conservation without imposing additional financial burdens on consumers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48:3-87.9, 48:3-98.1