Source: https://development.code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/titles/8/chapters/17R/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 04:43:15+00:00

Document:
D.C. Law Library - Chapter 17R. Energy Efficiency Financing.
Chapter 17S. Submission of State Energy Plans.
Subchapter I. Definitions and Purpose.
Subchapter III. Establishment of the National Capital Energy Fund and Energy Efficiency Loan Program.
(B) The person or entity retained pursuant to the authority granted in § 8-1778.45 to administer the Energy Efficiency Loan program authorized by subchapter III of this chapter.
(F) An officer or employee of the office of the Chief Financial Officer to whom the Chief Financial Officer has delegated a function of the Chief Financial Officer under this chapter pursuant to § 1-204.24d, and who has been designated as an Authorized Delegate for purposes of this chapter.
(4) “Bonds” means the District of Columbia revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations (including refunding bonds, notes, and other obligations), in one or more series, authorized to be issued pursuant to this chapter.
(5) “Certification Standard” means a certification or accreditation standard for building energy retrofit installation, such as those provided by the Building Performance Institute, the Residential Energy Services Network, or a nationally recognized program approved by the United States Department of Energy or the Mayor.
(6) “Chief Financial Officer” means the Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia.
(7) “Closing Documents” means all documents and agreements, other than Financing Documents, that may be necessary and appropriate to issue, sell, and deliver the bonds, and includes agreements, certificates, letters, opinions, forms, receipts, and other similar instruments.
(8) “Debt Service” means payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the bonds.
(9) “Energy Efficiency Audit” means a formal evaluation by a certified contractor of the energy consumption of a residential, commercial, or other building for the purpose of identifying methods of improving energy efficiency and reducing energy waste.
(J) Any other modification, installation, retrofit, or remodeling approved as an electric, gas, water, or stormwater utility cost-savings measure by the administrator.
(11) “Energy Efficiency Loan” means a loan to a property owner for the purpose of installing one of more Energy Efficiency Improvements.
(11A) “Energy Efficiency Loan Agreement” means a loan or other agreement to make, document, or implement an Energy Efficiency Loan entered into pursuant to § 8-1778.41(c).
(12) “Financing Documents” means the documents, other than Closing Documents, that relate to the financing or refinancing of transactions to be effected through the issuance, sale, and delivery of the bonds, including any required collection agreement, offering document, and any required supplements to any such documents.
(13) “Home Rule Act” means Chapter 2 of Title 1 [§ 1-201.01 et seq.].
(14) “Indenture” means the trust indentures, including a master trust indenture and any supplemental trust indenture, pursuant to which one or more series of the bonds are issued.
(F) Other fees, costs, charges, and expenses incurred in connection with the development and implementation of the financing documents, the closing documents, and other documents necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization, preparation, printing, issuance, sale, marketing, and delivery of each applicable series of bonds and the making of energy efficiency loans.
(14B) “Private Lending Institution” means a non-government business organization that makes an Energy Efficiency Loan and is approved by the Mayor to participate in the Energy Efficiency Loan program pursuant to §§ 8-1778.31 and 8-1778.48.
(15) “Property owner” means an owner of real property in the District.
(16) “Qualified Apprenticeship Program” means an apprenticeship program registered with the District of Columbia Apprenticeship Council.
(17) “Quality Assurance Program” means a program that establishes energy benchmarks, monitors and verifies the quality of Energy Efficiency Improvements, and measures actual energy savings.
(18) “Special Assessment” means the special assessment authorized by subchapter IX of Chapter 8 of Title 47 [§ 47-895.31 et seq.].
(19) “Trustee” means the trustee under the indenture.
This section is referenced in § 47-895.31.
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-262 added (2)(F) and made related changes; substituted “energy or water utility” for “energy utility” in the introductory paragraph of (10); substituted “electric, gas, water, or stormwater” for “electric or gas” in (10)(J); and added (11A), (14A), and (14B).
“(E) Any officer or employee of the Executive Office of the Mayor to whom the Mayor has delegated any of the Mayor’s functions under this act pursuant to section 422(6) of the Home Rule Act and who has been designated as an Authorized Delegate for purposes of this act.
“(2) ‘Bond Counsel’ means a firm or firms of attorneys designated as bond counsel from time to time by the Mayor.
“(4) ‘Chief Financial Officer’ means the Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia.
“(5) ‘Closing Documents’ means all documents and agreements, other than Financing Documents, that may be necessary and appropriate to issue, sell, and deliver the bonds, and includes agreements, certificates letters, opinions, forms, receipts, and other similar instruments.
“(6) ‘Debt Service’ means payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the bonds.
“(7) ‘Financing Documents’ means the documents, other than Closing Documents, that relate to the financing or refinancing of transactions to be effected through the issuance, sale, and delivery of the bonds, including any required collection agreement, offering document, and any required supplements to any such documents.
“(8) ‘Home Rule Act’ means the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 774; D.C. Official Code § 1-201.01 et seq.).
“(9) ‘Indenture’ means the trust indentures, including a master trust indenture and any supplemental trust indenture, pursuant to which one or more series of the bonds are issued.
“(10) ‘Special Assessment’ means the special assessment authorized by subchapter IX of Chapter 8 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code.
§ 8–1778.02. Declaration of public purpose.
(a) Energy conservation efforts, including the promotion of Energy Efficiency Improvements to residential, commercial, and other real property, are necessary to address the issue of global climate change and to reduce the consumers’ energy costs.
(b) The upfront cost of making residential, commercial, or other real property more energy efficient prevents many property owners from making Energy Efficient Improvements. To make Energy Efficient Improvements more accessible and to promote the installation of those improvements, it is necessary to authorize a procedure to provide funds for the initial cost of installing Energy Efficiency Improvements.
(c) The Council declares that a public purpose will be served by a voluntary assessment program that provides the authority and the means to provide funds for the initial installation of Energy Efficiency Improvements that are permanently attached to residential, commercial, industrial, or other real property.
(d) Section 1-204.90 provides that the Council may, by act, authorize the issuance of District bonds to borrow money to finance, refinance, or reimburse, and to assist in the financing, refinancing, or reimbursing of, the cost of capital projects or undertakings that will contribute to the health, welfare, or safety of residents of the District as determined by the Council.
(e) The Council finds that authorization, issuance, sale, and delivery of bonds for the payment of costs of a program to provide funds for the initial installation of Energy Efficiency Improvements that are permanently attached to residential, commercial, or other real property will contribute to the health, welfare, and safety of residents of the District, are in the public interest, and will accomplish the purposes and intent of § 1-204.90.
(a) The Council approves and authorizes the issuance of one or more series of bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250 million. The bonds, which may be issued at any time and from time to time, in one or more series, shall be tax-exempt or taxable as the Mayor shall determine and shall be payable and secured as provided in § 8-1778.23.
(b) The Mayor is authorized to pay from the proceeds of a bond’s issuance costs, the cost of funding capitalized interest and required reserves, and other costs authorized by § 1-204.90(f). In the event bonds are sold other than through a public offering, the issuance costs may be paid from the Special Energy Assessment Program Administrative Account.
(c) The remaining proceeds of the bonds shall be paid into the National Capital Energy Fund established by § 8-1778.41 and used to provide funds for the initial installation of Energy Efficiency Improvements that are permanently attached to residential, commercial, industrial, or other real property as authorized under subchapter III of this chapter.
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-262 rewrote (b).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 103 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
Section 103 of D.C. Law 18-156 added a section to read as follows: “Sec. 103. Bond authorization.
“(a) The Council approves and authorizes the issuance of one or more series of bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250 million. The bonds, which may be issued at any time and from time to time, in one or more series, shall be tax-exempt or taxable as the Mayor shall determine and shall be payable and secured as provided in section 104.
“(b) The Mayor is authorized to pay from the proceeds of the bonds the financing costs and expenses of issuing and delivering the bonds, including, but not limited to, underwriting, legal, accounting, and financial advisory fees; bond insurance or other credit enhancement; expenses for marketing and selling the bonds; printing costs and expenses; and the costs of funding capitalized interest and required reserves.
§ 8–1778.23. Payment and security.
(a) Except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter, Debt Service on each series of bonds shall be payable solely and only from proceeds received from the sale of that series of bonds, income realized from the temporary investment of those proceeds, Special Assessment revenues allocated to the applicable Special Energy Assessment Bond Debt Service Account, amounts received from prepayments of any loans made pursuant to this chapter, income realized from the temporary investment of those Special Assessment revenues prior to payment to the bond holders, and other moneys that, as provided in the Financing Documents, may be made available to the District for payment of the bonds from sources other than the District, all as provided for in the Financing Documents.
(b) Payment of the bonds shall be secured as provided in the Financing Documents and by an assignment by the District for the benefit of the bondholders of certain of its rights under the Financing Documents and Closing Documents to the trustee for the bonds pursuant to the Financing Documents.
(c) The trustee is authorized to deposit, invest, and disburse the proceeds received from the sale of the bonds pursuant to the Financing Documents.
This section is referenced in § 8-1778.22.
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 104 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
Section 104 of D.C. Law 18-156 added a section to read as follows: “Sec. 104. Payment and security.
“(a) Except as may be otherwise provided in this act, Debt Service on each series of bonds shall be payable solely and only from proceeds received from the sale of that series of bonds, income realized from the temporary investment of those proceeds, Special Assessment revenues allocated to the applicable Special Energy Assessment Bond Debt Service Account, amounts received from prepayments of any loans made pursuant to this act, income realized from the temporary investment of those Special Assessment revenues prior to payment to the bond holders, and other moneys that, as provided in the Financing Documents, may be made available to the District for payment of the bonds from sources other than the District, all as provided for in the Financing Documents.
“(b) Payment of the bonds shall be secured as provided in the Financing Documents and by an assignment by the District for the benefit of the bond holders of certain of its rights under the Financing Documents and Closing Documents to the trustee for the bonds pursuant to the Financing Documents.
(11) The terms and types of credit enhancement under which the bonds may be secured.
(b) The bonds shall contain a legend, which shall provide that the bonds are special obligations of the District, are without recourse to the District, are not a pledge of, and do not involve, the faith and credit or the taxing power of the District (other than the Special Assessment), do not constitute a debt of the District, and do not constitute lending of the public credit for private undertakings as prohibited in § 1-206.02(a)(2).
(c) The bonds shall be executed in the name of the District and on its behalf by the manual or facsimile signature of the Mayor, and attested by the Secretary of the District of Columbia by the Secretary’s manual or facsimile signature.
(d) The official seal of the District, or a facsimile of it, shall be impressed, printed, or otherwise reproduced on the bonds.
(e) The bonds of any series may be issued in accordance with the terms of an indenture to be entered into by the District and a trustee to be selected by the Mayor, and may be subject to the terms of one or more agreements entered into by the Mayor pursuant to § 1-204.90(a)(4).
(f) The bonds may be issued at any time or from time to time in one or more issues and in one or more series.
(g) The bonds are declared to be issued for essential public and governmental purposes. The bonds, the interest thereon, the income therefrom, and all funds pledged or available to pay or secure the payment of the bonds, shall at all times be exempt from taxation by the District, except for estate, inheritance, and gift taxes.
(h) The District does pledge and covenant and agree with the holders of the bonds that, subject to the provisions of the Financing Documents, the District will not limit or alter the basis on which the revenues pledged to secure the bonds are collected or allocated, will not impair the contractual obligations of the District to fulfill the terms of any agreement made with the holders of the bonds, and will not in any way impair the rights or remedies of the holders of the bonds, until the bonds, together with interest thereon, and all costs and expenses in connection with any suit, action, or proceeding by or on behalf of the holders of the bonds, are fully met and discharged. This pledge and agreement for the District may be included as part of the contract with the holders of the bonds. This subsection constitutes a contract between the District and the holders of the bonds. To the extent that any acts or resolutions of the Council may be in conflict with this chapter, this chapter shall be controlling.
(3) The security interest shall be valid, binding, and perfected whether or not any statement, document, or instrument relating to the security interest is recorded or filed.
“(11) The terms and types of credit enhancement under which the bonds may be secured.
“(b) The bonds shall contain a legend, which shall provide that the bonds are special obligations of the District, are without recourse to the District, are not a pledge of, and do not involve, the faith and credit or the taxing power of the District (other than the Special Assessment), do not constitute a debt of the District, and do not constitute lending of the public credit for private undertakings as prohibited in section 602(a)(2) of the Home Rule Act.
“(c) The bonds shall be executed in the name of the District and on its behalf by the manual or facsimile signature of the Mayor, and attested by the Secretary of the District of Columbia by the Secretary’s manual or facsimile signature.
“(e) The bonds of any series may be issued in accordance with the terms of an indenture to be entered into by the District and a trustee to be selected by the Mayor, and may be subject to the terms of one or more agreements entered into by the Mayor pursuant to section 490(a)(4) of the Home Rule Act.
“(g) The bonds are declared to be issued for essential public and governmental purposes. The bonds, the interest thereon, and the income therefrom, and all funds pledged or available to pay or secure the payment of the bonds, shall at all times be exempt from taxation by the District, except for estate, inheritance, and gift taxes.
“(h) The District does pledge and covenant and agree with the holders of the bonds that, subject to the provisions of the Financing Documents, the District will not limit or alter the basis on which the revenues pledged to secure the bonds are collected or allocated, will not impair the contractual obligations of the District to fulfill the terms of any agreement made with the holders of the bonds, and will not in any way impair the rights or remedies of the holders of the bonds, until the bonds, together with interest thereon, and all costs and expenses in connection with any suit, action, or proceeding by or on behalf of the holders of the bonds, are fully met and discharged. This pledge and agreement for the District may be included as part of the contract with the holders of the bonds. This subsection constitutes a contract between the District and the holders of the bonds. To the extent that any acts or resolutions of the Council may be in conflict with this act, this act shall be controlling.
§ 8–1778.25. Sale of the bonds.
(a) The bonds of any series may be sold at negotiated or competitive sale at, above, or below par, to one or more persons or entities, and upon terms that the Mayor considers to be in the best interests of the District.
(b) The Mayor or an Authorized Delegate may execute, in connection with each sale of the bonds, offering documents on behalf of the District, may deem final any such offering document on behalf of the District for purposes of compliance with federal laws and regulations governing such matters, and may authorize the distribution of the documents in connection with the sale of the bonds.
(c) The Mayor is authorized to deliver the executed and sealed bonds, on behalf of the District, for authentication, and, after the bonds have been authenticated, to deliver the bonds to the original purchasers of the bonds upon payment of the purchase price.
(d) The bonds shall not be issued until the Mayor receives an approving opinion from Bond Counsel as to the validity of the bonds of such series and, if the interest on the bonds is expected to be exempt from federal income taxation, the treatment of the interest on the bonds for the purposes of federal income taxation.
(e) Chapter 3A of Title 2 [§ 2-351.01 et seq.], and subchapter III-A of Chapter 3 of Title 47 [§ 47-351.01 et seq.] shall not apply to a contract that the Mayor may from time to time enter into or the Mayor may determine to be necessary or appropriate, for purposes of this subchapter.
The 2012 amendment by D.C. Law 19-171 substituted “Chapter 3A of Title 2” for “§ 2-301.01 et seq.” in (e).
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-262 rewrote (e).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 106 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
“Sec. 106. Sale of the bonds.
“(d) The bonds shall not be issued until the Mayor receives an approving opinion from bond counsel as to the validity of the bonds of such series and, if the interest on the bonds is expected to be exempt from federal income taxation, the treatment of the interest on the bonds for purposes of federal income taxation.
§ 8–1778.26. Financing and Closing Documents.
(a) The Mayor is authorized to prescribe the final form and content of all Financing Documents and all Closing Documents to which the District is a party that may be necessary or appropriate to issue, sell, and deliver the bonds.
(b) The Mayor is authorized to execute, in the name of the District and on its behalf, the Financing Documents and any Closing Documents to which the District is a party by the Mayor’s manual or facsimile signature.
(c) If required, the official seal of the District, or a facsimile of it, shall be impressed, printed, or otherwise reproduced on the bonds, the other Financing Documents, and the Closing Documents to which the District is a party.
(d) The Mayor’s execution and delivery of the Financing Documents and the Closing Documents to which the District is a party shall constitute conclusive evidence of the Mayor’s approval, on behalf of the District, of the final form and content of the executed Financing Documents and the executed Closing Documents.
(e) The Mayor is authorized to deliver the executed and sealed Financing Documents and Closing Documents, on behalf of the District, prior to or simultaneously with the issuance, sale, and delivery of the bonds, and to ensure the due performance of the obligations of the District contained in the executed, sealed, and delivered Financing Documents and Closing Documents.
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 107 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
“Sec. 107. Financing and closing documents.
“(c) If required, the official seal of the District, or a facsimile of it, shall be impressed, printed, or otherwise reproduced on the bonds, the other Financing Documents, and the Closing Documents to which the District is a party.
(a) The bonds shall be special obligations of the District payable solely and only from the amounts deposited in the respective Special Energy Assessment Bond Debt Service Accounts and Bond Proceeds Account of the National Capital Energy Fund established by § 8-1778.41. The bonds shall be without recourse to the District. The bonds shall not be general obligations of the District, shall not be a pledge of, or involve, the faith and credit or the taxing power of the District (other than the Special Assessment), shall not constitute a debt of the District, and shall not constitute lending of the public credit for private undertakings as prohibited in § 1-206.02(a)(2).
(c) No person, including, but not limited to, any bond holder, shall have any claims against the District or any of its elected or appointed officials, officers, employees, or agents for monetary damages suffered as a result of the failure of the District to perform any covenant, undertaking, or obligation under this chapter, the bonds, the Financing Documents, or the Closing Documents, or as a result of the incorrectness of any representation in or omission from the Financing Documents or the Closing Documents, unless the District or its elected or appointed officials, officers, employees, or agents have acted in a willful and fraudulent manner.
This section is referenced in § 8-1778.28.
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 108 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
“(a) The bonds shall be special obligations of the District payable solely and only from the amounts deposited in the respective Special Energy Assessment Bond Debt Service Accounts and Bond Proceeds Account of the National Capital Energy Fund created by section 202. The bonds shall be without recourse to the District. The bonds shall not be general obligations of the District, shall not be a pledge of, or involve, the faith and credit or the taxing power of the District (other than the Special Assessment), shall not constitute a debt of the District, and shall not constitute lending of the public credit for private undertakings as prohibited in section 602(a)(2) of the Home Rule Act.
“(b) The bonds shall not give rise to any pecuniary liability of the District and the District shall have no obligation with respect to the purchase of the bonds.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in § 8-1778.27(c), the elected or appointed officials, officers, employees, or agents of the District shall not be liable personally for the payment of the bonds or be subject to any personal liability by reason of the issuance of the bonds, or for any representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, or agreements of the District contained in this chapter, the bonds, the Financing Documents, or the Closing Documents.
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 109 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
“(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 108(c), the elected or appointed officials, officers, employees, or agents of the District shall not be liable personally for the payment of the bonds or be subject to any personal liability by reason of the issuance of the bonds, or for any representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, or agreements of the District contained in this act, the bonds, the Financing Documents, or the Closing Documents.
Within 3 days after the Mayor’s receipt of the transcript of proceedings relating to the issuance of the bonds, the Mayor shall transmit a copy of the transcript to the Secretary to the Council.
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 110 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
§ 8–1778.30. Clarification regarding the debt cap.
For purposes of calculating the District’s level of debt, the Special Assessments do not constitute revenues derived from taxes, fees, or other general revenues of the District, or its agencies or authorities, pursuant to the District’s power to tax or impose fees within the definition of District Bonds in § 47-334(2).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 111 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
§ 8–1778.31. Bond issuance to private lending institutions.
If the Mayor determines that a bond issuance is in the interest of the District and promotes the goal of encouraging the installation of Energy Efficiency Improvements, a bond may be issued to, purchased by, or held by a Private Lending Institution that makes an Energy Efficiency Loan to a property owner. In this event, the proceeds of the bond may be paid directly to the property owner or the contractor installing the Energy Efficiency Improvements and not paid into the National Capital Energy Fund. The amount of the Energy Efficiency Loan shall be determined as provided in subchapter III of this chapter, and the Private Lending Institution shall be an additional party to the Energy Efficiency Loan Agreement. A bond held by a Private Lending Institution may be redeemed or transferred to another holder at the discretion of the Private Lending Institution.
This section is referenced in § 8-1778.01 and § 8-1778.41.
D.C. Law 19-262 added this section.
§ 8–1778.41. Establishment of the National Capital Energy Fund.
(a) There is established as a nonlapsing fund the National Capital Energy Fund. The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit the proceeds from the sale of a bond into the National Capital Energy Fund, except as provided in § 8-1778.31.
(b) All funds deposited into the National Capital Energy Fund, and any interest earned on those funds, shall not revert to the unrestricted fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia at the end of a fiscal year, or at any other time, but shall be continually available for the uses and purposes set forth in subsection (c) of this section, without regard to fiscal year limitation.
(c) The Mayor may use the funds in the National Capital Energy Fund to make Energy Efficiency Loans to property owners for the initial costs of the installation of Energy Efficiency Improvements. Each Energy Efficiency Loan shall be repaid by the revenues generated by the Special Assessment. Each Energy Efficiency Loan shall be evidenced by a loan, or other, agreement that obligates the property owner and all successor property owners to pay the Special Assessment and such other terms and conditions as the Mayor shall determine to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(d) An Energy Efficiency Loan shall bear interest at the rate of interest on the series of bonds issued immediately preceding or simultaneously with the date of execution of the Energy Efficiency Loan, plus an amount determined by the Mayor to be sufficient to pay all administrative costs specified in § 8-1778.21. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, when a bond is issued pursuant to § 8-1778.31, the interest rate on the Energy Efficiency Loan shall be the same as the interest rate on a bond issued to a Private Lending Institution. The principal, interest, and administrative costs of an Energy Efficiency Loan shall be separately stated to permit the allocation thereof as provided in this chapter.
(e) If a first source of funds deposited in the National Capital Energy Fund is an obligation that requires the District to use those funds solely to repay principal and interest on the funds, the Energy Efficiency Loan, or other agreement shall be structured to repay the funding source, plus administrative costs. A Special Assessment payment shall be deposited in the same manner specified in § 8-1778.21.
(f) A Special Assessment payment received prior to the issue of bonds secured by the Special Assessment payments may be used to provide a debt service reserve fund for the bonds.
(3) Use grant funds for a purpose for which monies in the National Capital Energy Fund may be spent.
This section is referenced in § 8-1778.01, § 8-1778.22, § 8-1778.27, and § 47-895.32.
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-262 rewrote (a); substituted “subsection (c) of this section, without regard to fiscal year limitation” for “this section without regard to fiscal year limitation, subject to authorization by Congress” near the end of (b); rewrote (d) and (e); and added (g).
For temporary (90 day) additions, see § 201, 202 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
“(1) ‘Administrator’ means the person retained pursuant to the authority granted in section 205 to administer the energy efficiency loan program authorized by this title.
“(2) ‘Certification Standard’ means a certification or accreditation standard for building energy retrofit installation, such as those provided by the Building Performance Institution, RESNET, or other nationally-recognized program approved by U.S. Department of Energy or the Mayor.
“(3) ‘Energy efficiency audit’ means a formal evaluation by a certified contractor of the energy consumption of a residential, commercial, or other building for the purpose of identifying methods of improving energy efficiency and reducing energy waste.
“(J) Any other modification, installation, retrofit, or remodeling approved as a energy cost-savings measure by the administrator.
“(5) ‘Energy efficiency loan’ means a loan to a property owner for the purpose of installing one of more energy efficiency improvements.
“(6) ‘PACE bonds’ means the property-assessed clean energy bonds issued pursuant to the authority granted in Title I.
“(7) ‘Property owner’ means an owner of real property in the District.
“(8) ‘Qualified Apprenticeship Program’ means an apprenticeship program registered with the District of Columbia Apprenticeship Council.
“(9) ‘Quality Assurance Program’ means a program that establishes the energy benchmarks, monitors and verifies the quality of the energy retrofits and renewable energy installations, and measures actual energy savings for the National Capital Energy Fund.
“Sec. 202. Creation of the National Capital Energy Fund.
“(a) There is established as a nonlapsing fund the National Capital Energy Fund. The Chief Financial Officer shall create 2 accounts within the National Capital Energy Fund: the Bond Proceeds Account and the Federal Grant Account. The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit the proceeds from each sale of the PACE bonds into the Bond Proceeds Account and shall deposit all Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Retrofit Ramp-Up funds received from the United States government as Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants into the Federal Grant Account.
“(b) All funds deposited into the National Capital Energy Fund, and any interest earned on those funds, shall not revert to the unrestricted fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia at the end of a fiscal year, or at any other time, but shall be continually available for the uses and purposes set forth in this section without regard to fiscal year limitation, subject to authorization by Congress.
“(c) The Mayor may use the funds in the National Capital Energy Fund to make energy efficiency loans to property owners for the initial costs of the installation of energy efficiency improvements. Each energy efficiency loan shall be repaid by the revenues generated by the Special Assessment. Each energy efficiency loan shall be evidenced by a loan, or other, agreement that obligated the property owner and all successor property owners to pay the Special Assessment and includes such other terms and conditions as the Mayor shall determine to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this act.
“(d) Prior to the 1st issuance of PACE bonds, each energy efficiency loan funded from grant proceeds shall bear interest at a rate equal to the interest rate on 10-year United States Treasury Notes on the date of the execution of the loan or other agreement evidencing an energy efficiency loan of the 1st series of energy efficiency loans to be issued, plus 250 basis points. Upon the 1st issuance of PACE bonds, the interest rate on the outstanding energy efficiency loans used to secure payment of that issue of PACE bonds shall convert automatically, and without action by either the District or the property owner, to the interest rate on the 1st series of PACE bonds, plus an amount determined by the Mayor to be sufficient to pay all administrative costs specified in section 102. Thereafter, until the interest rate is converted as described in the prior sentence, all energy efficiency loans shall bear interest at the rate of interest on the series of PACE bonds issued immediately preceding the date of execution of the energy efficiency loan, plus an amount determined by the Mayor to be sufficient to pay all administrative costs specified in section 102. In all cases, the principal, interest, and administrative costs shall be separately stated to permit the allocation thereof as provided in this act.
“(e) If the 1st source of funds deposited in the National Capital Energy Fund is not a grant but an obligation which requires the District to repay principal and interest thereon, the energy efficiency loan, or other, agreement shall be structured to repay such funding source plus administrative costs. Special Assessment payments shall be deposited in the same manner specified in section 8-1778.21.
§ 8–1778.42. Qualification for loans.
(B) Additional energy savings expected from the property owner’s selection of Energy Efficiency Improvements when replacing equipment using energy or water.
(8) Other information or documentation as the Administrator may deem necessary to evaluate a loan application.
(b) The property owner shall pay a fee at the time of filing the application in an amount to be determined by the administrator to be sufficient to cover the cost of processing the application and making the Energy Efficiency Loan.
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-262 rewrote (a)(4); substituted “savings from” for “energy saved by” in (a)(5); and added (a)(8) and made related changes.
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 203 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
“Sec. 203. Qualification for loans.
“(7) Property owner certification that the Special Assessment will not violate any agreements with any other lender or provision of applicable lender consents.
§ 8–1778.43. Approval of application.
(a) The administrator shall review the property owner’s application and, if it finds that the application satisfies all requirements, shall enter into a loan, or other, agreement with the property owner.
(b) The property owner may request in the loan application that the Energy Efficiency Loan include an amount equal to all or part of the cost of the Energy Efficiency Audit. If the amount requested is reasonable, the administrator shall include the amount in the Energy Efficiency Loan.
(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, before entering into an Energy Efficiency Loan with a property owner, the administrator shall verify, based upon information provided in the property owner's application, that the value of the savings from the installation of the Energy Efficiency Improvements is reasonably expected to exceed the amount of the principal of, and interest on, the Energy Efficiency Loan, including any cost of the Energy Efficiency Audit included pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(C) The project contributes to the public purpose declared in § 8-1778.02.
This section is referenced in § 8-1778.42 and § 47-895.31.
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-262 substituted “an Energy Efficiency Loan Agreement with a property owner, the administrator shall verify, based upon information provided in the property owner’s application, that the value of the savings from” for “a loan, or other, agreement with a property owner, the administrator shall verify, based upon information provided in the property owner’s application, that the value of the energy saved by” in (c).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 204 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
Section 204 of D.C. Law 18-156 added a section to read as follows: “Sec. 204. Approval of application. The administrator shall review the property owner’s application and, if it finds that the application satisfies all requirements, shall enter into a loan, or other, agreement with the property owner.
§ 8–1778.44. Duties of administrator.
(12) Reporting to the Mayor and the Council on the progress of the Energy Efficiency Loan program.
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 205 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
“Sec. 205. Duties of administrator.
§ 8–1778.45. Authority to retain administrator.
(a) The Mayor may contract with an administrator to administer the Energy Efficiency Loan program created by this subchapter.
(b) Chapter 3A of Title 2 [§ 2-351.01 et seq.] shall not apply to the contract authorized by subsection (a) of this section.
The 2012 amendment by D.C. Law 19-171 substituted “Chapter 3A of Title 2” for “§ 2-301.01 et seq.” in (b).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 206 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
“Sec. 206. Authority to retain administrator.
“(a) The Mayor may contract with an administrator to administer the energy efficiency loan program created by this title.
“(b) The District of Columbia Procurement Practices Act of 1985, effective February 21, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-85; D.C. Official Code § 2-301.01 et seq.), shall not apply to the contract authorized by subsection (a) of this section until 3 years after the effective date of this act.
§ 8–1778.46. Establishment of Quality Assurance Program.
(4) Verifying and analyzing energy savings following the installation of Energy Efficiency Improvements.
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 207 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
“Sec. 207. Establishment of a Quality Assurance Program.
“(B) All applicable federal and District wage and hour, employment, workplace health and safety, and equal employment opportunity laws, and other standards of labor law, including proper classification of workers.
§ 8–1778.47. Workforce development and employment plan.
(3) Unemployed and underemployed residents.
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 208 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
“Sec. 208. Workforce development and employment plan; Qualified Apprenticeship Programs.
The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 209 of Energy Efficiency Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-324, March 1, 2010, 57 DCR 1851).
Delegation of Authority—Energy Efficiency Financing Act of 2010, see Mayor’s Order 2010-118, July 16, 2010 ( 57 DCR 6212).

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