AB841: Bill Text

AB841, s. 6 Section 6. 16.957 (1) (hm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB841,13,4 16.957 (1) (hm) "Fiscal agent" has the meaning given in s. 196.374 (1) (aw).

AB841, s. 7 Section 7. 16.957 (1) (L) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,13,9 16.957 (1) (L) "Low-income assistance program" means a program for providing assistance to low-income households for weatherization and other energy conservation services, payment of energy bills or early identification or prevention of energy crises.

AB841, s. 8 Section 8. 16.957 (1) (o) 1m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,13,14 16.957 (1) (o) 1m. The amount of the portion of the public benefits fee for fiscal year 1999-2000 that is specified in sub. (4) (c) 1., 2003 stats The amount specified in this subdivision shall not be subject to the reduction under 1999 Wisconsin Act 9, section 9101 (1zv) (a).

AB841, s. 9 Section 9. 16.957 (1) (o) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,13,19 16.957 (1) (o) 3. Fifty percent of the amount of public benefits fees that municipal utilities and retail electric cooperatives are required to charge under sub. (5) (a) in fiscal year 1999-2000. The amount specified in this subdivision shall not be subject to the reduction under 1999 Wisconsin Act 9, section 9101 (1zv) (c).

AB841, s. 10 Section 10. 16.957 (1) (qg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB841,13,22 16.957 (1) (qg) "Public benefits program" means a low-income assistance, energy efficiency, or renewable resource program.

AB841, s. 11 Section 11. 16.957 (1) (rm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB841,14,3 16.957 (1) (rm) "Renewable resource program" means a program for encouraging the development or use of customer applications of renewable resources, including educating customers or members about renewable resources or encouraging customers or members to use renewable resources or encouraging research technology transfers.

AB841, s. 12 Section 12. 16.957 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,14,6 16.957 (2) Department duties. (intro.) In consultation with the council, the The department shall do all of the following:

AB841, s. 13 Section 13. 16.957 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,14,14 16.957 (2) (a) Low-income assistance programs. (intro.) After holding a hearing, establish programs to be administered by the department In consultation with the council, establish requirements and procedures for awarding grants from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (3) (r) to provide for low-income assistance programs. In each fiscal year, the amount awarded under this paragraph shall be sufficient to ensure that an amount equal to 47% of the sum of the following is spent for weatherization and other energy conservation services:

AB841, s. 14 Section 14. 16.957 (2) (b) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,14,17 16.957 (2) (b) (title) Energy conservation and efficiency and renewable resource programs.

AB841, s. 15 Section 15. 16.957 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 16.957 (2) (b) and amended to read:

AB841,14,23 16.957 (2) (b) Subject to subd. 2., after holding a hearing, establish programs for awarding In consultation with the council, establish requirements and procedures for the department to direct the fiscal agent to award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (3) (s) for each of the following:

AB841,15,7 1. Proposals for providing energy conservation or efficiency services programs. In directing the awarding of grants under this subd. 1. a. subdivision, the department shall give priority to proposals directed at the sectors of energy conservation or efficiency markets that are least competitive and at promoting environmental protection, electric system reliability, or rural economic development. In each fiscal year, 1.75% of the appropriation under s. 20.505 (3) (s) total dollar amount of grants awarded under this paragraph shall be awarded in grants for research and development proposals regarding the environmental impacts of the electric industry.

AB841,15,14 2. Proposals for encouraging the development or use of customer applications of renewable resources, including educating customers or members about renewable resources or encouraging uses of renewable resources by customers or members or encouraging research technology transfers renewable resource programs. In each fiscal year, the department shall ensure that 4.5% of the appropriation under s. 20.505 (3) (s) total dollar amount of grants awarded under this paragraph is awarded in grants under this subd. 1. b subdivision.

AB841, s. 16 Section 16. 16.957 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 17 Section 17. 16.957 (2) (bg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB841,15,21 16.957 (2) (bg) Administrative responsibility. Be responsible for administering public benefits programs throughout the state, except for programs under sub. (5) or s. 196.374 (3m) (d) or (e), and ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that customers throughout the state have an equivalent opportunity to receive the benefits of the programs.

AB841, s. 18 Section 18. 16.957 (2) (br) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

AB841,15,23 16.957 (2) (br) (title) Contracts.

AB841, s. 19 Section 19. 16.957 (2) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,16,2 16.957 (2) (c) Rules. (intro.) Promulgate In consultation with the council, promulgate rules establishing all of the following:

AB841, s. 20 Section 20. 16.957 (2) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,16,9 16.957 (2) (c) 1. Eligibility requirements for receiving low-income assistance under programs established that receive grants under par. (a). The rules shall prohibit a person who receives low-income assistance from a municipal utility or retail electric cooperative under a program specified in sub. (5) (d) 2. b. or 3. a. from receiving low-income assistance under programs established that receive grants under par. (a).

AB841, s. 21 Section 21. 16.957 (2) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,16,12 16.957 (2) (c) 2. Requirements and procedures for applications for grants awarded under programs established under par. (a) or (b) 1.

AB841, s. 22 Section 22. 16.957 (2) (c) 2m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,16,15 16.957 (2) (c) 2m. Criteria for the selection of proposals by a corporation specified in sub. (3) (b) par. (br) 2.

AB841, s. 23 Section 23. 16.957 (2) (c) 2n. of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 24 Section 24. 16.957 (2) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,17,6 16.957 (2) (c) 4. Requirements for electric utilities to allow customers to include voluntary contributions to assist in funding a program established programs that receive grants under par. (a) or (b) 1. with bill payments for electric service. The rules may require an electric utility to provide a space on an electric bill in which a customer may indicate the amount of a voluntary contribution and the customer's preference regarding whether a contribution should be used for a program established that receives grants under par. (a) or (b) 1. a. or b 2. The rules shall establish requirements and procedures for electric utilities to pay to the department fiscal agent any voluntary contributions included with bill payments and to report to the department fiscal agent customer preferences regarding use of the contributions. The department fiscal agent shall deposit all contributions received under this paragraph for programs that receive grants under par. (a) in the utility public benefits fund and shall hold all contributions received under this paragraph for programs that receive grants under par. (b) as directed in s. 196.374 (3r).

AB841, s. 25 Section 25. 16.957 (2) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,17,11 16.957 (2) (d) 2. Encourage customers or members to make voluntary contributions to assist in funding the programs established under pars. (a) and (b) 1. The department shall deposit all contributions received under this paragraph in the utility public benefits fund described in par. (c) 4.

AB841, s. 26 Section 26. 16.957 (2) (d) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 27 Section 27. 16.957 (2) (d) 4. (intro.), a. and d. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 16.957 (2) (d) 4. and amended to read:

AB841,17,20 16.957 (2) (d) 4. Provide for an annual independent audit and submit Submit an annual report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that describes each of the following: 4. a. The the expenses of the department, other state agencies, and grant recipients in administering or participating in the programs under pars. (a) and (b). 4. d. Any and any other issue identified by the department, council, governor, speaker of the assembly, or majority leader of the senate.

AB841, s. 28 Section 28. 16.957 (2) (d) 4. b. and c. of the statutes are repealed.

AB841, s. 29 Section 29. 16.957 (2) (d) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

AB841,17,24 16.957 (2) (d) 5. Cooperate with the commission in the administration of public benefits programs.

AB841, s. 30 Section 30. 16.957 (3) (title) of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 31 Section 31. 16.957 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 16.957 (2) (br) 1. and amended to read:

AB841,18,7 16.957 (2) (br) 1. The department shall, on the basis of competitive bids, contract with community action agencies described in s. 46.30 (2) (a) 1., nonstock, nonprofit corporations organized under ch. 181 or local units of government to provide services under the low-income assistance programs established under sub. (2) par. (a).

AB841, s. 32 Section 32. 16.957 (3) (b) and (c) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 16.957 (2) (br) 2. and amended to read:

AB841,18,20 16.957 (2) (br) 2. The department shall, on the basis of competitive bids, contract with one or more nonstock, nonprofit corporations organized under ch. 181 to administer the energy efficiency and renewable resource programs established under sub. (2) par. (b) 1., including soliciting proposals, processing grant applications, selecting, based on criteria specified in rules promulgated under sub. (2) par. (c) 2m., proposals for the department to make awards and distributing grants to recipients. (c) In selecting proposals and awarding such grants under sub. (2) (b), the department or such a nonprofit corporation specified in par. (b) may not discriminate against an electric provider or its affiliate or a wholesale electric supplier or its affiliate solely on the basis of its status as an electric provider, wholesale electric supplier or affiliate.

AB841, s. 33 Section 33. 16.957 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,19,5 16.957 (4) (a) Requirement to charge public benefits fees collect funding. Each electric utility, except for a municipal utility, shall charge each customer a public benefits fee in an amount established in rules promulgated by the department under par. (b). An electric utility, except for a municipal utility, shall collect and pay the fees to the department in accordance with the rules promulgated under par. (b). The public benefits fees collected by an electric utility shall be considered trust funds of the department and not income of the electric utility collect from its customers the amounts required by the commission under s. 196.374 (3m) (c) and, as directed by the fiscal agent, pay the amounts collected to the fiscal agent.

AB841, s. 34 Section 34. 16.957 (4) (am) of the statutes is renumbered 196.374 (6) and amended to read:

AB841,19,16 196.374 (6) Electric bills; annual statements. An electric utility shall include a public benefits fee in the fixed charges for electricity in a customer's bill and shall identify on a customer's bill the amount that the electric utility is collecting from the customer for that billing period to make the collections required under sub. (3m) (c). The commission may specify the manner in which the amount is identified. An electric utility shall provide the customer customers with an annual statement that identifies the annual charges cost and benefit information for public benefits fees and describes the programs for which fees the amounts collected under sub. (3m) (c) are used.

AB841, s. 35 Section 35. 16.957 (4) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 36 Section 36. 16.957 (4) (c) (title) of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 37 Section 37. 16.957 (4) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 38 Section 38. 16.957 (4) (c) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 16.957 (2) (am) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB841,20,5 16.957 (2) (am) Low-income funding. (intro.) In fiscal year 1999-2000, a portion of the public benefits fee shall be an amount that, when added to 50% of the estimated public benefits fees charged by municipal utilities and retail electric cooperatives under sub. (5) (a) for that fiscal year, shall equal $24,000,000. In each fiscal year after fiscal year 1999-2000, a portion of the public benefits fee shall be an, determine the amount of funding required for low-income assistance programs. The amount so determined for a fiscal year shall be the amount that, when added to the sum of the following shall equal sum, equals the low-income need target for that fiscal year that is determined by the department under sub. (2) par. (d) 1.:

AB841, s. 39 Section 39. 16.957 (4) (c) 1. a. and b. of the statutes are renumbered 16.957 (2) (am) 1. and 2.

AB841, s. 40 Section 40. 16.957 (4) (c) 1. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,20,11 16.957 (4) (c) 1. c. The total amount spent on low-income assistance programs or contributed to the commission by electric utilities under s. 196.374 (3) for that fiscal year for low-income assistance.

AB841, s. 41 Section 41. 16.957 (4) (c) 2. of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 42 Section 42. 16.957 (4) (c) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

AB841, s. 43 Section 43. 16.957 (5) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,20,17 16.957 (5) (b) 1. No later than October 1, 2000, each municipal utility or retail electric cooperative shall notify the department whether it has elected to contribute to the programs established under sub. (2) (a) or (b) 1. for a 3-year period.

AB841, s. 44 Section 44. 16.957 (5) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,20,22 16.957 (5) (b) 2. No later than every 3rd year after the date specified in subd. 1., each municipal utility or retail electric cooperative shall notify the department whether it has elected to contribute to the programs established under sub. (2) (a) or (b) 1. for a 3-year period.

AB841, s. 45 Section 45. 16.957 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,21,4 16.957 (5) (c) Full contribution. If a municipal utility or retail electric cooperative elects under par. (b) 1. or 2. to contribute to the programs established both under sub. (2) (a) and under sub. (2) (b) 1., it shall pay 100% 100 percent of the public benefits fees that it charges under par. (a) to the department fiscal agent in each fiscal year of the 3-year period for which it has made the election. The fiscal agent shall deposit 50 percent of the fees into the utility public benefits fund.

AB841, s. 46 Section 46. 16.957 (5) (d) 1. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,21,8 16.957 (5) (d) 1. a. Pay 50% of the public benefits fees that it charges under par. (a) to the department fiscal agent. The fiscal agent shall deposit the fees into the utility public benefits fund.

AB841, s. 47 Section 47. 16.957 (5) (d) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,21,11 16.957 (5) (d) 1. b. Spend 50% of the public benefits fees that it charges under par. (a) on energy conservation efficiency programs.

AB841, s. 48 Section 48. 16.957 (5) (d) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,21,16 16.957 (5) (d) 2. (intro.) If the municipal utility or retail electric cooperative elects to contribute only to the programs established under sub. (2) (b) 1., the municipal utility or retail electric cooperative shall, in each fiscal year of the 3-year period for which it elects to contribute under par. (b) 1. or 2., do all of the following:

AB841, s. 49 Section 49. 16.957 (5) (d) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,21,19 16.957 (5) (d) 2. a. Pay 50% of the public benefits fees that it charges under par. (a) to the department fiscal agent.

AB841, s. 50 Section 50. 16.957 (5) (d) 2. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,21,22 16.957 (5) (d) 2. b. Spend 50% of the public benefits fees that it charges under par. (a) on programs for low-income assistance programs.

AB841, s. 51 Section 51. 16.957 (5) (d) 3. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,22,3 16.957 (5) (d) 3. (intro.) If the municipal utility or retail electric cooperative elects not to contribute to any of the programs established under sub. (2) (a) or (b) 1., the municipal utility or retail electric cooperative shall, in each fiscal year of the 3-year period for which it elects not to contribute under par. (b) 1. or 2., do all of the following:

AB841, s. 52 Section 52. 16.957 (5) (d) 3. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,22,6 16.957 (5) (d) 3. a. Spend 50% of the public benefits fees that it charges under par. (a) on programs for low-income assistance programs.

AB841, s. 53 Section 53. 16.957 (5) (d) 3. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,22,9 16.957 (5) (d) 3. b. Spend 50% of the public benefits fees that it charges under par. (a) on energy conservation efficiency programs.

AB841, s. 54 Section 54. 16.957 (5) (e) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB841,22,14 16.957 (5) (e) Wholesale supplier credit. (intro.) If a wholesale supplier has established a program for low-income assistance or an energy conservation efficiency program, a municipal utility or retail electric cooperative that is a customer or member of the wholesale supplier may do any of the following: