American Energy Efficiency Act

To amend title VI of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a Federal energy efficiency resource standard for electricity and natural gas suppliers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Energy Efficiency Act 2. Energy efficiency resource standard for retail electricity and natural gas suppliers (a) In general Title VI of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2601 et seq. 610. Federal energy efficiency resource standard for retail electricity and natural gas suppliers (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Base quantity (A) In general The term base quantity (B) Exclusion The term base quantity (2) Customer facility savings The term customer facility savings (A) in the case of a new facility, consumption at a reference facility of average efficiency; (B) in the case of an existing facility, consumption at the facility during a base period of not less than 1 year; (C) in the case of new equipment that replaces existing equipment at the end of the useful life of the existing equipment, consumption by new equipment of average efficiency of the same equipment type, except that customer savings under this subparagraph shall not be counted towards customer savings under subparagraph (A) or (B); and (D) in the case of new equipment that replaces existing equipment with remaining useful life— (i) consumption of the existing equipment for the remaining useful life of the equipment; and (ii) thereafter, consumption of new equipment of average efficiency. (3) Electricity savings The term electricity savings (A) customer facility savings of electricity, adjusted to reflect any associated increase in fuel consumption at the facility; (B) reductions in distribution system losses of electricity achieved by a retail electricity supplier, as compared to losses attributable to new or replacement distribution system equipment of average efficiency, as defined in regulations promulgated by the Secretary; (C) CHP savings; (D) codes and standards savings of electricity; and (E) fuel switching energy savings that results in net savings of electricity. (4) Natural gas savings The term natural gas savings (A) customer facility savings of natural gas, adjusted to reflect any associated increase in electricity consumption or consumption of other fuels at the facility; (B) reductions in leakage, operational losses, and consumption of natural gas fuel to operate a gas distribution system, achieved by a retail natural gas supplier, as compared to similar leakage, losses, and consumption during a base period of not less than 1 year; (C) codes and standards savings of natural gas; and (D) fuel switching energy savings that results in net savings of natural gas. (5) Retail electricity supplier (A) In general The term retail electricity supplier (B) Inclusions and limitations For purposes of determining whether an electric utility qualifies as a retail electricity supplier under subparagraph (A)— (i) deliveries by any affiliate of an electric utility to electric consumers for purposes other than resale shall be considered to be deliveries by the electric utility; and (ii) deliveries by any electric utility to a lessee, tenant, or affiliate of the electric utility shall not be considered to be deliveries to electric consumers. (6) Retail natural gas supplier (A) In general The term retail natural gas supplier 15 U.S.C. 3301 (B) Inclusions and limitations For purposes of determining whether a person qualifies as a retail natural gas supplier under subparagraph (A)— (i) deliveries of natural gas by any affiliate of a local distribution company to consumers for purposes other than resale shall be considered to be deliveries by the local distribution company; and (ii) deliveries of natural gas to a lessee, tenant, or affiliate of a local distribution company shall not be considered to be deliveries to natural gas consumers. (b) Establishment of program (1) Regulations Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall, by regulation, establish a program to implement and enforce the requirements of this section, including by— (A) defining the terms CHP savings code and standards savings combined heat and power system cost-effective fuel switching energy savings reporting period third-party efficiency provider waste heat energy savings (B) establishing measurement and verification procedures and standards that count only measures and savings that are additional to business-as-usual customer purchase practices; (C) establishing requirements under which retail electricity suppliers and retail natural gas suppliers shall— (i) demonstrate, document, and report the compliance of the retail electricity suppliers and retail natural gas suppliers with the performance standards under subsection (c); and (ii) estimate the impact of the standards on current and future electricity and natural gas use in the service territories of the suppliers; (D) establishing requirements governing applications for, and implementation of, delegated State administration under subsection (e); and (E) establishing rules to govern transfers of electricity or natural gas savings between suppliers and third-party efficiency providers serving the same State and between suppliers and third-party efficiency providers serving different States. (2) Coordination with State programs In establishing and implementing this section, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, preserve the integrity and incorporate best practices of existing State energy efficiency programs. (c) Performance standards (1) Compliance obligation Not later than May 1 of the calendar year immediately following each reporting period— (A) each retail electricity supplier shall submit to the Secretary a report, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary, demonstrating that the retail electricity supplier has achieved cumulative electricity savings (adjusted to account for any attrition of savings measures implemented in prior years) in each calendar year that are equal to the applicable percentage of the base quantity of the retail electricity supplier; and (B) each retail natural gas supplier shall submit to the Secretary a report, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary, demonstrating that it has achieved cumulative natural gas savings (adjusted to account for any attrition of savings measures implemented in prior years) in each calendar year that are equal to the applicable percentage of the base quantity of such retail natural gas supplier. (2) Standards for 2017 through 2030 For each of calendar years 2017 through 2030, the applicable percentages are as follows: Calendar Year Cumulative Electricity Cumulative Natural Gas 2017 1.00 0.50 2018 2.00 1.25 2019 3.00 2.00 2020 4.25 3.00 2021 5.50 4.00 2022 7.00 5.00 2023 8.50 6.00 2024 10.00 7.00 2025 11.50 8.00 2026 13.00 9.00 2027 14.75 10.00 2028 16.50 11.00 2029 18.25 12.00 2030 20.00 13.00. (3) Subsequent years (A) Calendar years 2031 through 2040 Not later than December 31, 2028, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations establishing performance standards (expressed as applicable percentages of base quantity for both cumulative electricity savings and cumulative natural gas savings) for each of calendar years 2031 through 2040. (B) Requirements The Secretary shall establish standards under this paragraph at levels reflecting the maximum achievable level of cost-effective energy efficiency potential, taking into account— (i) cost-effective energy savings achieved by leading retail electricity suppliers and retail natural gas suppliers; (ii) opportunities for new codes and standard savings; (iii) technology improvements; and (iv) other indicators of cost-effective energy efficiency potential including differences between States. (C) Minimum percentage In no case shall the applicable percentages for any calendar year be less than the applicable percentages for calendar year 2030. (4) Delay of submission for first reporting period (A) In general Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), for the 2017 reporting period, the Secretary may accept a request from a retail electricity supplier or a retail natural gas supplier to delay the required submission of documentation of all or part of the required savings for up to 2 years. (B) Plan for compliance The request for delay under subparagraph (A) shall include a plan for coming into full compliance by the end of the 2018–2019 reporting period. (5) Applying unused savings to future years If savings achieved in a year exceed the performance standards specified in this subsection, any savings in excess of the performance standards may be applied toward performance standards specified for future years. (d) Enforcement and judicial review (1) Review of retail supplier reports (A) In general The Secretary shall review each report submitted to the Secretary by a retail electricity supplier or retail natural gas supplier under subsection (c) to verify that the applicable performance standards under subsection (c) have been met. (B) Exclusion In determining compliance with the applicable performance standards under subsection (c), the Secretary shall exclude reported electricity savings or natural gas savings that are not adequately demonstrated and documented, in accordance with the regulations promulgated under subsections (b) and (c). (2) Penalty for failure to document adequate savings If a retail electricity supplier or a retail natural gas supplier fails to demonstrate compliance with an applicable performance standard under subsection (c), or to pay to the State an applicable alternative compliance payment under subsection (e)(3), the Secretary shall assess against the retail electricity supplier or retail natural gas supplier a civil penalty for each failure in an amount equal to, as adjusted for inflation in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may promulgate— (A) $100 per megawatt hour of electricity savings or alternative compliance payment that the retail electricity supplier failed to achieve or make, respectively; or (B) $10 per million Btu of natural gas savings or alternative compliance payment that the retail natural gas supplier failed to achieve or make, respectively. (3) Offsetting state penalties The Secretary shall reduce the amount of any penalty under paragraph (2) by the amount paid by the relevant retail electricity supplier or retail natural gas supplier to a State for failure to comply with the requirements of a State energy efficiency resource standard during the same compliance period. (4) Enforcement procedures The Secretary shall assess a civil penalty, as provided under paragraph (2), in accordance with the procedures described in section 333(d) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1954 ( 42 U.S.C. 6303 (e) State administration (1) In general Upon receipt of an application from the Governor of a State (including the Mayor of the District of Columbia), the Secretary may delegate to the State responsibility for administering this section within the territory of the State if the Secretary determines that the State will implement an energy efficiency program that meets or exceeds the requirements of this section. (2) Secretarial determination Not later than 180 days after the date on which a complete application is received by the Secretary, the Secretary shall make a substantive determination approving or disapproving a State application, after public notice and comment. (3) Alternative compliance payments (A) In general As part of an application submitted under paragraph (1), a State may permit retail electricity suppliers or retail natural gas suppliers to pay to the State, by not later than May 1 of the calendar year immediately following the applicable reporting period, an alternative compliance payment in an amount equal to, as adjusted for inflation in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may promulgate, not less than— (i) $50 per megawatt hour of electricity savings needed to make up any deficit with regard to a compliance obligation under the applicable performance standard; or (ii) $5 per million Btu of natural gas savings needed to make up any deficit with regard to a compliance obligation under the applicable performance standard. (B) Use of payments Alternative compliance payments collected by a State under subparagraph (A) shall be used by the State to administer the delegated authority of the State under this section and to implement cost-effective energy efficiency programs that— (i) to the maximum extent practicable, achieve electricity savings and natural gas savings in the State sufficient to make up the deficit associated with the alternative compliance payments; and (ii) can be measured and verified in accordance with the applicable procedures and standards under subsection (b)(1)(B). (4) Review of state implementation (A) Periodic review Every 2 years, the Secretary shall review State implementation of this section for conformance with the requirements of this section in approximately 1/2 (B) Report To facilitate the review under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may require the State to submit a report demonstrating the conformance of the State with the requirements of this section. (C) Deficiencies (i) In general In completing a review under this paragraph, if the Secretary finds deficiencies, the Secretary shall— (I) notify the State of the deficiencies; (II) direct the State to correct the deficiencies; and (III) require the State to report to the Secretary on progress made by not later than 180 days after the date on which the State receives notice under subclause (I). (ii) Substantial deficiencies If the deficiencies are substantial, the Secretary shall— (I) disallow the reported electricity savings or natural gas savings that the Secretary determines are not credible due to deficiencies; (II) re-review the State not later than 2 years after the date on which the original review was completed; and (III) if substantial deficiencies remain uncorrected after the review provided for under subclause (II), revoke the authority of the State to administer the program established under this section. (f) Information and reports In accordance with section 13 of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 ( 15 U.S.C. 772 (g) State law Nothing in this section diminishes or qualifies any authority of a State or political subdivision of a State to adopt or enforce any law or regulation respecting electricity savings or natural gas savings, including any law or regulation establishing energy efficiency requirements that are more stringent than those under this section, except that no State law or regulation shall relieve any person of any requirement otherwise applicable under this section. . (b) Conforming amendment The table of contents of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. prec. 2601) is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title VI the following: Sec. 609. Rural and remote communities electrification grants. Sec. 610. Federal energy efficiency resource standard for retail electricity and natural gas suppliers. .

Summary: American Energy Efficiency Act This bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to prescribe a federal energy efficiency resource standard for retail electricity and natural gas suppliers. The Secretary of Energy is directed to implement a program which establishes: measurement and verification procedures and standards that count only measures and savings that are additional to business-as-usual customer purchase practices; certain requirements governing retail electricity suppliers and retail natural gas suppliers; other requirements governing applications for, and implementation of, delegated state administration; and rules to govern transfers of electricity or natural gas savings between suppliers and third-party efficiency providers serving the same state and between suppliers and third-party efficiency providers serving different states. Mandatory performance standards for 2017-2030 are prescribed for retail energy suppliers. No standards for any subsequent year may be lower than the standard for 2030. Retail electricity and natural gas suppliers are subject to monetary penalties for failure to document the adequate savings required by this Act. The Secretary may delegate to a state responsibility for administering this Act within its territory upon determining that it will meet or exceed the energy efficiency required by this Act. The Secretary must: (1) review state implementation of this Act, every two years, in approximately one-half of the states; and (2) take certain measures where deficiencies are found.