Bill Text: MN HF2992 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Utility rebate program required for thermostats.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-12 - Introduction and first reading, referred to Energy Policy [HF2992 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF2992-Introduced.html
1.2relating to energy; requiring utility rebate programs for certain thermostats;
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.241, by adding a subdivision.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.241, is amended by adding a
1.6subdivision to read:
1.7 Subd. 11. Rebates; qualifying thermostats. (a) By October 1, 2014, each
1.8Minnesota utility must file with the department a program to provide a rebate to defray
1.9by at least 50 percent the cost of a qualifying thermostat purchased and installed by a
1.10residential heating customer. The department shall review each rebate program and may
1.11approve, reject, or modify it. A rebate program approved by the department must be made
1.12available to a utility's customers within 60 days of the approval.
1.13(b) Energy savings achieved through the operation of a qualifying thermostat may be
1.14applied toward the utility's energy savings goal in subdivision 1c.
1.15(c) For the purposes of this subdivision:
1.16(1) "qualifying thermostat" means a temperature-sensing device that:
1.17(i) establishes and maintains a desired temperature automatically by actuating
1.18heat-providing equipment;
1.19(ii) can be programmed remotely via software that is accessed by a computer or
1.20smart phone;
1.21(iii) is capable of self-programming based on recently experienced temperature
1.22settings; and
1.23(iv) has been deemed cost-effective by the department;
2.1(2) "residential heating customer" means a person who purchases energy from a
2.2utility to heat the interior of a residence; and
2.3(3) "smart phone" means a handheld cellular phone or other handheld mobile
2.4device built on a mobile operating system and possessing advanced computing capability.
2.5Features a smart phone may possess include, but are not limited to, built-in applications,
2.6Internet access, digital voice service, text messaging, e-mail, and Web browsing.
2.7EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.241, by adding a subdivision.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.241, is amended by adding a
1.6subdivision to read:
1.7 Subd. 11. Rebates; qualifying thermostats. (a) By October 1, 2014, each
1.8Minnesota utility must file with the department a program to provide a rebate to defray
1.9by at least 50 percent the cost of a qualifying thermostat purchased and installed by a
1.10residential heating customer. The department shall review each rebate program and may
1.11approve, reject, or modify it. A rebate program approved by the department must be made
1.12available to a utility's customers within 60 days of the approval.
1.13(b) Energy savings achieved through the operation of a qualifying thermostat may be
1.14applied toward the utility's energy savings goal in subdivision 1c.
1.15(c) For the purposes of this subdivision:
1.16(1) "qualifying thermostat" means a temperature-sensing device that:
1.17(i) establishes and maintains a desired temperature automatically by actuating
1.18heat-providing equipment;
1.19(ii) can be programmed remotely via software that is accessed by a computer or
1.20smart phone;
1.21(iii) is capable of self-programming based on recently experienced temperature
1.22settings; and
1.23(iv) has been deemed cost-effective by the department;
2.1(2) "residential heating customer" means a person who purchases energy from a
2.2utility to heat the interior of a residence; and
2.3(3) "smart phone" means a handheld cellular phone or other handheld mobile
2.4device built on a mobile operating system and possessing advanced computing capability.
2.5Features a smart phone may possess include, but are not limited to, built-in applications,
2.6Internet access, digital voice service, text messaging, e-mail, and Web browsing.
2.7EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
