[§269-96]  Energy-efficiency portfoliostandards.  (a)  The public utilities commission shall establishenergy-efficiency portfolio standards that will maximize cost-effectiveenergy-efficiency programs and technologies.

(b)  The energy-efficiency portfolio standardsshall be designed to achieve four thousand three hundred gigawatt hours ofelectricity use reductions statewide by 2030; provided that the commissionshall establish interim goals for electricity use reduction to be achieved by2015, 2020, and 2025 and may also adjust the 2030 standard by rule or order tomaximize cost-effective energy-efficiency programs and technologies.

(c)  The commission may establish incentivesand penalties based on performance in achieving the energy-efficiency portfoliostandards by rule or order.

(d)  The public utilities commission shallevaluate the energy-efficiency portfolio standard every five years, beginningin 2013, and may revise the standard, based on the best information availableat the time, to determine if the energy-efficiency portfolio standardestablished by this section remains effective and achievable.  The commissionshall report its findings and revisions to the energy-efficiency portfoliostandard, based on its own studies and other information, to the legislature nolater than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2014, andevery five years thereafter.

(e)  Beginning in 2015, electric energy savingsbrought about by the use of renewable displacement or off-set technologies,including solar water heating and seawater air conditioning district coolingsystems, shall count toward this standard. [L 2009, c 155, pt of §11]