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HB 7091 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING AUDITS OF THE UTILITY PROGRAMS OVERSEEN BY THE ENERGY CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT BOARD.

HB 7091 requires electric and gas distribution companies in Connecticut to submit combined energy conservation plans to the Energy Conservation Management Board every three years, beginning November 1, 2025. The bill mandates annual audits by the Auditors of Public Accounts to verify that conservation programs meet cost-effectiveness standards - ensuring program benefits exceed costs. If programs fail this test, they must be modified or terminated, unless integral to cost-effective combined initiatives. This directly affects utility companies, the Energy Conservation Management Board, and the Connecticut Green Bank, with funding mechanisms including fixed rates (6 mills/kWh for electricity, $0.046 per CCF for gas). The law ensures ongoing oversight of energy efficiency spending to maximize savings for ratepayers.
Issues: ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates audits to ensure energy conservation programs meet cost-effectiveness standards, aligning with Clean Energy Fund and Connecticut Green Bank initiatives.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates energy conservation plans and cost-effectiveness audits for utility programs, ensuring environmental benefits exceed costs per Energy Conservation Management Board requirements.92% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action May 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → GOS Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was substantially rewritten to shift focus from auditing the Connecticut Green Bank's residential energy assessment programs to regulating utility conservation and load management plans. The new version establishes requirements for electric and gas companies to submit integrated conservation plans, sets specific funding mechanisms through conservation adjustments, and mandates annual audits of program cost-effectiveness by the Auditors of Public Accounts.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from targeting audits of the Connecticut Green Bank's residential energy assessment activities to regulating utility companies' conservation and load management plans for both electric and gas services.
SCOPE

Changed the subject from auditing the Connecticut Green Bank's residential energy assessment programs to regulating utility company conservation and load management plans.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for electric and gas companies to submit combined conservation and load management plans every three years, starting November 1, 2012.

FISCAL

Established conservation adjustment mechanisms to fund plans, with electric rates capped at six mills per kilowatt hour and gas rates capped at 4.6 cents per hundred cubic feet.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement that program cost-effectiveness be audited annually by the Auditors of Public Accounts, with failing programs required to be modified or terminated.

TIMELINE

Changed effective date from October 1, 2025 to November 1, 2012 for plan submissions, and added annual audit requirements starting March 1, 2005.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed exemptions for residential projects with one to four dwelling units from annual auditing requirements.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
3
Committee
4
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Appropriations
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Government Oversight
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.