CT HB05248

If the federal Energy Star program is eliminated, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may endorse an equivalent third-party energy efficiency certification program and coordinate with other states on standardized consumer labels.

The Commissioner may periodically increase appliance and product efficiency standards through regulations, using a 5-year consumer payback period determined by multistate appliance standards organizations as the cost-effectiveness benchmark.

Efficiency standards may be adopted for products if federal Department of Energy standards issued before January 1, 2018 under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act were subsequently withdrawn or repealed.

The Connecticut Siting Council must consider anticipated future electric grid reliability needs when determining public need for transmission facilities, including whether projects create interconnection points for future generation or relieve transmission constraints.

Violations of efficiency standards are subject to civil penalties of up to $250 per offense per day, with the Commissioner authorized to conduct in-person or online inspections and establish an anonymous online reporting process.