AB43,2408 Section 2408. 196.027 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,1322,9 196.027 (1) (f) “Environmental control cost" means capital cost, including capitalized cost relating to regulatory assets, incurred or expected to be incurred by an energy utility in undertaking an environmental control activity and, with respect to an environmental control activity described in par. (d) 2. or 3., includes the unrecovered value of property that is retired, including any demolition or similar cost that exceeds the salvage value of the property. “Environmental control cost" does not include any monetary penalty, fine, or forfeiture assessed against an energy utility by a government agency or court under a federal or state environmental statute, rule, or regulation.

AB43,2409 Section 2409. 196.218 (5) (a) 12. of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,2410 Section 2410. 196.218 (5) (a) 15. of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,1322,13 196.218 (5) (a) 15. To administer a digital equity program for the purposes specified under s. 196.504 (10).

AB43,2411 Section 2411. 196.31 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,1322,17 196.31 (2r) From the appropriation under s. 20.155 (1) (j), the commission shall reserve $50,000 annually to compensate equity-focused participants who review economic and environmental issues affecting low-income populations.

AB43,2412 Section 2412. 196.37 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,1322,22 196.37 (7) It is not unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory for a public utility to implement low-income assistance programs if approved in a rate case in which the commission reviewed the program eligibility criteria and program credits or rebates and if that cost is incorporated in the public utility's published schedules or tariffs.

AB43,2413 Section 2413. 196.372 (3) (e) 2. (intro.) and b. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 196.372 (3) (e) 2. and amended to read:

AB43,1323,3 196.372 (3) (e) 2. The commission may not approve an application under subd. 1. unless the application satisfies all of the following conditions: b. Any states that any loan provided may not be forgiven by the water public utility or the municipality.

AB43,2414 Section 2414. 196.372 (3) (e) 2. a. of the statutes is repealed.

AB43,2415 Section 2415. 196.374 (1) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 196.374 (1) (d) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB43,1323,12 196.374 (1) (d) (intro.) “Energy efficiency program" means a program for reducing the usage or increasing the efficiency of the usage of energy by a customer or member of an energy utility, municipal utility, or retail electric cooperative. “Energy efficiency program" does not include load management. “ Energy efficiency program” includes a program that deploys electric technologies to meet energy needs currently served by other fuels in order to do all of the following:

AB43,2416 Section 2416. 196.374 (1) (d) 1. and 2. of the statutes are created to read:

AB43,1323,16 196.374 (1) (d) 1. Reduce the usage of energy, increase the efficiency of usage of energy on a fuel-neutral basis, or reduce adverse environmental impacts, including carbon dioxide emissions.

AB43,1323,18 2. Reduce costs for electric public utilities and retail electric cooperatives or their customers or members.

AB43,2417 Section 2417. 196.374 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,1323,25 196.374 (3) (b) 2. The commission shall require each energy utility to spend 1.2 2.4 percent of its annual operating revenues derived from retail sales to fund the utility's programs under sub. (2) (b) 1., the utility's ordered programs, the utility's share of the statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource programs under sub. (2) (a) 1., and the utility's share, as determined by the commission under subd. 4., of the costs incurred by the commission in administering this section.

AB43,2418 Section 2418. 196.376 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,1324,8 196.376 Residential and commercial energy improvements. The commission may authorize a public utility to finance energy improvements at a specific residential or commercial location and recover the cost of those improvements over time through a surcharge periodically placed on the public utility customer's account for that location. The commission shall promulgate rules to establish the requirements for the utility financing programs authorized under this section. Those requirements shall include at least all of the following:

AB43,1324,9 (1) The surcharge shall be assigned to a location, not to an individual customer.

AB43,1324,11 (2) Energy improvements are eligible for financing only if the improvements are estimated to save an amount that exceeds the surcharge.

AB43,1324,13 (3) The financing offered to a customer under this section may not increase the customer's risk or debt.

AB43,2419 Section 2419. 196.491 (2) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,1324,16 196.491 (2) (title) Strategic energy assessment and integrated resource plans.

AB43,2420 Section 2420. 196.491 (2) (a) 3s. of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,1324,19 196.491 (2) (a) 3s. Review the integrated resource plans submitted by electric utilities under par. (h) to help inform the strategic energy assessment.

AB43,2421 Section 2421. 196.491 (2) (h) of the statutes is created to read: