Bill > H2912

This bill mandates that Massachusetts gas and electric utility companies must actively pursue all cost-effective energy savings opportunities for their customers, meaning any savings that are cheaper than traditional energy sources. To achieve this, a study must be conducted by a consultant hired by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC) to identify all potential efficiency and demand reduction resources. This study, which cannot be older than five years, must be completed within six months of the bill's passage and will inform the utility companies' Three Year Plans, which are strategies for energy efficiency programs. If the initial study reveals that the current savings goals in an ongoing Three Year Plan are not meeting the full potential identified, the utility companies will be required to adopt the study's targets during the mid-term modification of their plans. Furthermore, if the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) approves a plan that sets lower savings targets than what the study recommends, the DPU must provide a written explanation for this discrepancy. Finally, the bill changes the word "may" to "shall" in a relevant section, meaning that utility companies are now obligated, rather than just permitted, to implement these energy efficiency measures.