Chapter 16

16.956(3) (3) Eligible applicants. An applicant is eligible for a grant under this section only if all of the following apply:

16.956(3)(a) (a) The applicant is a common motor carrier, contract motor carrier, or private motor carrier that transports freight.

16.956(3)(b) (b) The applicant is headquartered in this state.

16.956(3)(c) (c) The applicant pays 50 percent of the eligible costs for each idling reduction unit covered by a grant under this section without the use of grants, loans, or other financial assistance from this state or from a local governmental unit in this state.

16.956(3)(d) (d) The applicant agrees to collect information relating to the operation and performance of each idling reduction unit covered by a grant under this section, as required by the department, and to report that information to the department.

16.956(4) (4) Grants.

16.956(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the costs that an applicant has incurred or will incur to purchase and install an idling reduction unit on a truck tractor that is owned and operated by the applicant and that has a post-1998 diesel truck engine are eligible costs under this section if the use of the idling reduction unit will result, in the aggregate, in a decrease in the emissions of one or more air contaminants, as defined in s. 285.01 (1), from the truck tractor on which the idling reduction unit is installed or in a decrease in the use of energy by the truck tractor on which the idling reduction unit is installed.

16.956(4)(b) (b) The following costs are not eligible costs:

16.956(4)(b)1. 1. The cost of shipping an idling reduction unit from the manufacturer to the facility where the idling reduction unit will be installed on the truck tractor.

16.956(4)(b)2. 2. The cost of operating an idling reduction unit.

16.956(4)(b)3. 3. The cost of maintaining an idling reduction unit.

16.956(4)(cm) (cm) Subject to par. (d), the department may make grants under this section from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2020, of 50 percent of the eligible costs for an idling reduction unit installed on a truck tractor, unless the department has previously awarded a grant under this section for an idling reduction unit installed on the truck tractor.

16.956(4)(d) (d) In any fiscal year, the department may not pay to any one applicant more than 20 percent of the amount appropriated under s. 20.505 (1) (sa) for the fiscal year.

16.956(4)(e) (e) The department may pay a grant over more than one fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds and to par. (d).

16.956(5) (5) Information. The department shall collect information from recipients of grants under this section relating to the operation and performance of idling reduction units. The department shall summarize the information collected and make it available to common motor carriers, contract motor carriers, and private motor carriers in an accessible and cost-effective manner, such as on department’s Internet site.

16.956(5m) (5m) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of the program under this section.

16.956(6) (6) Sunset. Subsections (2) to (4) do not apply after December 31, 2021.

16.956 History History: 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32 ss. 3335 to 3338; Stats. 2011 s. 101.45; 2013 a. 20 s. 1710; Stats. 2013 s. 16.956; 2013 a. 173; 2015 a. 55.

16.956 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 94, Wis. adm. code.

16.9565 16.9565 Electric vehicle charging stations.

16.9565(1) (1) In this section:

16.9565(1)(a) (a) “Level 1 charger” means a device with one or more charging ports and connectors for charging electric vehicles that operates on a circuit up to 120 volts and transfers alternating current electricity to a device in an electric vehicle that converts alternating current to direct current to recharge an electric vehicle battery.

16.9565(1)(b) (b) “Level 2 charger” has the meaning given for “AC Level 2” under 23 CFR 680.104.

16.9565(1)(c) (c) “Level 3 charger” means a direct current fast charger, as defined under 23 CFR 680.104, and analogous successor technologies.

16.9565(1)(d) (d) “State agency” means an association, authority, board, department, commission, independent agency, institution, office, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law.

16.9565(2) (2) 

16.9565(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no state agency may own, operate, or lease an electric vehicle charging station containing a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 charger unless the charger is not available to the public and is used solely to charge vehicles owned or leased by a state agency.

16.9565(2)(b) (b) A state agency may own, operate, manage, or lease an electric vehicle charging station at which a Level 1 charger or Level 2 charger is available to the public if the state agency makes all Level 1 chargers or Level 2 chargers available for public use free of any charge.

16.9565(3) (3) Notwithstanding sub. (2), a state agency may authorize an electric provider, as defined in s. 16.957 (1) (f), or a person described in s. 196.01 (5) (b) 8. to own and operate an electric vehicle charging station at which a Level 1 charger, Level 2 charger, or Level 3 charger is available to the public on property owned by the state agency.

16.9565(4) (4) An electric provider, as defined in s. 16.957 (1) (f), or a person described in s. 196.01 (5) (b) 8. who is authorized under sub. (3) to own and operate an electric vehicle charging station at which a Level 1 charger, Level 2 charger, or Level 3 charger is available to the public on property owned by a state agency, shall charge a reasonable fee for the electricity delivered or placed by all such chargers.

16.9565(5) (5) Notwithstanding sub. (2), a state agency may own, operate, manage, or lease an electric vehicle charging station at which a Level 1 charger or a Level 2 charger installed on or after March 22, 2024, is available to the public if the state agency charges a reasonable fee for the electricity delivered or placed by all such Level 1 chargers and Level 2 chargers.

16.9565 History History: 2023 a. 121.

16.957 16.957 Low-income assistance.

16.957(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

16.957(1)(bm) (bm) “Commission” means the public service commission.

16.957(1)(c) (c) “Commitment to community program” means a program by or on behalf of a municipal utility or retail electric cooperative for low-income assistance.

16.957(1)(f) (f) “Electric provider” means an electric utility or retail electric cooperative.

16.957(1)(g) (g) “Electric utility” means a public utility that owns or operates a retail electric distribution system.

16.957(1)(gr) (gr) “Federal assistance” means, for a fiscal year, all moneys received from the federal government under 42 USC 6861 to 6873 and 42 USC 8621 to 8629 in the fiscal year.

16.957(1)(i) (i) “Fiscal year” has the meaning given in s. 655.001 (6).

16.957(1)(k) (k) “Local unit of government” means the governing body of any county, city, town, village or county utility district or the elected tribal governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band.

16.957(1)(L) (L) “Low-income assistance” means assistance to low-income households for weatherization and other energy conservation services, payment of energy bills or early identification or prevention of energy crises.

16.957(1)(m) (m) “Low-income household” means any individual or group of individuals in this state who are living together as one economic unit and for whom residential electricity is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for electricity in the form of rent, and whose household income is not more than 60 percent of the statewide median household income.

16.957(1)(n) (n) “Low-income need” means the amount obtained by subtracting from the total low-income energy bills in a fiscal year the product of 2.2 percent of the estimated average annual income of low-income households in this state in that fiscal year multiplied by the estimated number of low-income households in this state in that fiscal year.

16.957(1)(o) (o) “Low-income need percentage” means the percentage that results from dividing the sum of the following by the amount of low-income need in fiscal year 1998-99:

16.957(1)(o)1. 1. The federal assistance in fiscal year 1997-98.

16.957(1)(o)1m. 1m. The amount of the portion of the public benefits fee for fiscal year 1999-2000 that is specified in s. 16.957 (4) (c) 1., 1999 stats.

16.957(1)(o)2. 2. The total amount expended by utilities under s. 196.374, 2003 stats., related to low-income assistance.

16.957(1)(o)3. 3. Fifty percent of the amount of public benefits fees that municipal utilities and retail electric cooperatives were required to charge under s. 16.957 (5) (a), 1999 stats., in fiscal year 1999-2000.

16.957(1)(p) (p) “Low-income need target” means the product of the low-income need percentage multiplied by low-income need in a fiscal year.

16.957(1)(q) (q) “Municipal utility” means an electric utility that is owned wholly by a municipality and that owns a retail distribution system.

16.957(1)(qm) (qm) “Public utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (5).

16.957(1)(s) (s) “Retail capacity” means the total amount of electricity that an electric provider is capable of delivering to its retail customers or members and that is supplied by electric generating facilities owned or operated by the electric provider or any other person. “Retail capacity” does not include any electricity that is not used to satisfy the electric provider’s retail load obligations.

16.957(1)(t) (t) “Retail electric cooperative” means a cooperative association that is organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of providing electricity at retail to its members only and that owns or operates a retail electric distribution system.

16.957(1)(u) (u) “Total low-income energy bills” means the total estimated amount that all low-income households are billed for residential electricity, natural gas and heating fuel in a fiscal year.

16.957(1)(v) (v) “Wholesale electric cooperative” means a cooperative association that is organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of providing electricity at wholesale to its members only.

16.957(1)(w) (w) “Wholesale supplier” means a wholesale electric cooperative or a municipal electric company, as defined in s. 66.0825 (3) (d), that supplies electricity at wholesale to a municipal utility or retail electric cooperative.

16.957(1)(x) (x) “Wholesale supply percentage” means the percentage of the electricity sold by a wholesale supplier that is purchased by a municipal utility or retail electric cooperative.

16.957(2) (2) Department duties. The department shall do all of the following:

16.957(2)(a) (a) Low-income programs. After holding a hearing, establish programs to be administered by the department for awarding grants from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (3) (r) to provide low-income assistance. In each fiscal year, the amount awarded under this paragraph shall be sufficient to ensure that an amount equal to 50 percent of the sum of the following is allocated for weatherization and other energy conservation services:

16.957(2)(a)2. 2. All moneys spent in a fiscal year for low-income programs established under s. 196.374, 2003 stats.

16.957(2)(a)3. 3. The moneys collected in low-income assistance fees under sub. (4) (a).

16.957(2)(a)4. 4. The moneys collected in low-income assistance fees under sub. (5) (a).

16.957(2)(c) (c) Rules. Promulgate rules establishing all of the following:

16.957(2)(c)1. 1. Eligibility requirements for low-income assistance under programs established 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) (b) 1. from receiving low-income assistance under programs established under par. (a).

16.957(2)(c)2. 2. Requirements and procedures for applications for grants awarded under programs established under par. (a).

16.957(2)(c)5. 5. A method for estimating total low-income energy bills, average annual income of low-income households and the number of low-income households in a fiscal year for the purpose of determining the amount of low-income need in the fiscal year.

16.957(2)(d) (d) Other duties.

16.957(2)(d)1. 1. For each fiscal year, determine the low-income need target for that fiscal year.

16.957(2)(d)3. 3. Deposit all moneys received under sub. (4) (a) or (5) (b) 2. in the utility public benefits fund.

16.957(2)(d)4. 4. Provide for an annual independent audit and submit an annual report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that describes each of the following:

16.957(2)(d)4.a. a. The expenses of the department, other state agencies, and grant recipients in administering or participating in the programs under par. (a).

16.957(2)(d)4.b. b. The effectiveness of the programs under par. (a) in providing assistance to low-income individuals.

16.957(2)(d)4.d. d. Any other issue identified by the department, governor, speaker of the assembly or majority leader of the senate.

16.957(3) (3) Contracts. The department shall, on the basis of competitive bids, contract with community action agencies described in s. 49.265 (2) (a) 1., nonstock, nonprofit corporations organized under ch. 181, or local units of government to provide services under the programs established under sub. (2) (a).

16.957(4) (4) Electric utilities.

16.957(4)(a) (a) Requirement to charge low-income assistance fees. Each electric utility, except for a municipal utility, shall charge each customer a low-income assistance 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 low-income assistance fees collected by an electric utility shall be considered trust funds of the department and not income of the electric utility.

16.957(4)(am) (am) Electric bills. An electric utility shall show the low-income assistance fee as a separate line in a customer’s bill, identified as the “state low-income assistance fee,” and shall provide the customer with an annual statement that identifies the annual charges for low-income assistance fees and describes the programs for which fees are used.

16.957(4)(b) (b) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules that establish the amount of a low-income assistance fee under par. (a). Fees established in rules under this paragraph may vary by class of customer, but shall be uniform within each class, and shall satisfy each of the following:

16.957(4)(b)1. 1. The fees may not be based on the kilowatt-hour consumption of electricity by customers.

16.957(4)(b)2. 2. Seventy percent of the total amount of fees charged by an electric provider may be charged to residential customers and 30 percent of the total may be charged to nonresidential customers.

16.957(4)(b)3. 3. The fees shall allow an electric provider to recover the reasonable and prudent expenses incurred by the electric provider in complying with this section.

16.957(4)(c) (c) Amount of low-income assistance fees. A fee established in rules promulgated under par. (b) shall satisfy each of the following:

16.957(4)(c)1. 1. ‘Low-income funding from fee.’ In each fiscal year, the low-income assistance fee shall be an amount that, when added to the sum of the following shall equal the low-income need target for that fiscal year determined by the department under sub. (2) (d) 1.:

16.957(4)(c)1.a. a. The estimated low-income assistance fees charged by municipal utilities and retail electric cooperatives under sub. (5) (a) for that fiscal year.

16.957(4)(c)1.b. b. The federal assistance for that fiscal year.

16.957(4)(c)1.c. c. The total amount spent on programs by utilities under s. 196.374 (3), 2003 stats., for that fiscal year for low-income assistance.

16.957(4)(c)3. 3. ‘Limitation on low-income assistance fees.’ In any month, the low-income assistance fee may not exceed 3 percent of the total of every other charge for which the customer is billed for that month or $750, whichever is less.

16.957(5) (5) Municipal utilities and retail electric cooperatives.