135-A – Short Title.

§ 135-a. Short title. This article shall be known as the “home insulation and energy conservation act”.

135-B – Definitions.

§ 135-b. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 1. “Commission” means the public service commission of the state of New York. 2. “Utility” means an investor-owned gas or electrical corporation regulated by the commission whose gross revenues for the preceding calendar year exceeded three hundred fifty million […]

135-C – Home Conservation Plans; Eligibility; Approval by the Commission.

§ 135-c. Home conservation plans; eligibility; approval by the commission. 1. After hearing upon reasonable notice, the commission shall establish home conservation plans for each utility in accordance with the provisions of this article. Such plans shall be open to participation by all eligible customers meeting the criteria set forth in this article. Such eligibility […]

135-D – Scope of Plan.

§ 135-d. Scope of plan. 1. Each utility shall adopt and implement a home conservation plan as approved by the commission, and shall offer participation to its customers. The availability of the plan shall be publicized by the utility to encourage customer participation. 2. The commission may provide that any such plan shall provide participating […]

135-E – Energy Conservation Criteria.

§ 135-e. Energy conservation criteria. 1. Participation shall be denied to any eligible customer whose proposed installation of energy conservation measures fails to meet minimum criteria established by the commission for purposes of home conservation plans. The commission shall establish criteria for each energy conservation measure after consultation with the New York State Energy Office […]

135-F – Energy Audits.

§ 135-f. Energy audits. 1. Upon the request of either an eligible customer or a landlord, each utility shall conduct an energy audit of the customer’s residential premises or the landlord’s multiple dwelling and promptly provide the results of the audit to such customer or landlord in a manner prescribed by the chairman. No charge […]

135-G – Financing.

§ 135-g. Financing. 1. Where any home conservation plan is approved by the commission and requires utility financing, any such plan shall provide that upon entering into a financing contract and security agreement with an eligible customer, the utility shall reimburse such eligible customer, or pay directly to an authorized contractor and/or supplier a sum […]

135-H – Installation.

§ 135-h. Installation. 1. A utility shall afford each participant in its home conservation plan the option of installing energy conservation measures either (a) by performing the work on a “do-it-yourself” basis, where deemed safe and feasible by the commission, under guidelines set by the commission for assuring quality and conformance with applicable criteria; (b) […]

135-I – Default.

§ 135-i. Default. In the event that a participating customer defaults in respect to payment under a financing agreement and security contract entered into pursuant to this article, the utility shall employ reasonable efforts to collect all amounts due from the customer.

135-J – Administration by Public Service Commission; Application by Utilities; Approval.

§ 135-j. Administration by public service commission; application by utilities; approval. 1. The commission shall issue such orders, rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate for interpretations, implementation or administration of this article. 2. Within ninety days of the effective date hereof, every utility shall submit its proposed home conservation plan in accordance […]

135-K – Reports; Miscellaneous.

§ 135-k. Reports; miscellaneous. 1. During the first three years of operation of an approved home conservation plan, each utility shall submit to the commission annually a summary report setting forth such information as the commission may deem relevant to monitor and evaluate the progress of the program. 2. On or before the thirty-first day […]

135-L – Alternate Financing Method.

§ 135-l. Alternate financing method. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections one hundred thirty-five-d and one hundred thirty-five-g of this article, a utility may satisfy its obligation to provide financing to eligible customers by concluding financial arrangements with two or more lending institutions in this state engaged in making home improvement loans to provide loans to […]

135-M – Applicability to Prior Installations.

§ 135-m. Applicability to prior installations. In the event any eligible customer installs energy conservation measures subsequent to the effective date of this act, but prior to the adoption of a home conservation plan by his gas or electric utility, and the work performed or obtained by such eligible customer would qualify for financing under […]

135-N – Nonresidential Energy Audits.

§ 135-n. Nonresidential energy audits. 1. The commission shall be authorized to require a utility, upon the request of an owner of a farm, small business or nonprofit organization, to conduct an energy audit of a farm or a farmstead, or of a commercial building occupied by such business or organization and promptly provide the […]

135-O – Recovery of Costs.

§ 135-o. Recovery of costs. A utility shall be allowed to recover as normal operating expenses through rates the just and reasonable costs of carrying out its responsibilities and home conservation plan under this article, as determined by the commission after public hearing upon reasonable notice.