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 this lost revenue. This change aims to ensure that consumers who actively reduce their energy consumption through various conservation measures do not face increased costs that negate their savings.

The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in establishing energy savings targets, performance indicators, and stakeholder processes to evaluate energy efficiency programs. It emphasizes the need for utilities to develop and implement energy efficiency and peak demand reduction programs that are economically viable and beneficial to consumers. The intent behind these amendments is to shift the focus of the BPU towards consumer interests, ensuring that ratepayers are not penalized for their efforts to conserve energy and reduce their utility bills.

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