SB1601 Summary: Utility Energy Efficiency

• Requires electric and natural gas utilities to develop rebate programs for residential and small commercial customers who invest in technologies achieving at least 3% reduction in energy usage on a weather-normalized basis.

• Establishes technology-specific approved methodologies for verifying energy savings and allows technology vendors or alternative suppliers to conduct verification and submit rebates on behalf of customers.

• Limits customers to receiving recovery under only one utility energy efficiency program per technology to prevent duplicate benefits.

• Applies to electric utilities serving 500,000 or fewer retail customers and gas utilities with ongoing energy efficiency requirements, with program details subject to state utility commission approval.