An Act to Support Lower Home Energy Costs by Establishing a Home Energy Scoring System
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1101
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: MILLETT, LAWRENCE, BELL, DOUDERA, GEIGER, GERE, ZEIGLER, GROHOSKI
Amends: 35-A MRSA §10130

Legislative Document
No. 1101
H.P. 696
House of Representatives, March 9, 2023
An Act to Support Lower Home Energy Costs by Establishing a 
Home Energy Scoring System
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MILLETT of Cape Elizabeth.
Cosponsored by Senator LAWRENCE of York and
Representatives: BELL of Yarmouth, DOUDERA of Camden, GEIGER of Rockland, GERE 
of Kennebunkport, ZEIGLER of Montville, Senator: GROHOSKI of Hancock.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §10130 is enacted to read:
§10130.  Home energy score; home energy audit requirements
The trust shall establish a home energy scoring system in accordance with this section 
for residential buildings for the purpose of evaluating a building's energy efficiency and 
relative greenhouse gas emissions.  This section governs the development of the home 
energy score and home energy audit requirements.
1.  Home energy audit requirements.  A home energy audit must be conducted by an 
energy auditor that meets the requirements of section 10114.  An energy auditor must 
provide a written report of the home energy audit to the requestor of the home energy audit.  
The report must include the building's home energy score.
2.  Violations.  Penalties may be issued by the trust against an individual who:
A. Conducts or offers to conduct a home energy audit without meeting the requirements 
of section 10114; or
B. Impersonates an energy auditor.
3. Uses of home energy score. A home energy score provided under subsection 1 may 
be used in accordance with the following:  
A. A county or municipality may promote or administer home energy audits;
B. A county or municipality may require a home energy score at the time a residential 
building is advertised for sale; or
C. The trust may require a home energy score for an individual to be eligible to receive 
financial rebates or other incentives for energy efficiency improvements under 
programs administered by the trust.
4.  Rules.  The trust shall adopt rules to implement this section, including but not 
limited to:
A. Rules establishing a home energy scoring system required under this section in 
accordance with this paragraph.  The home energy score must be consistent with the 
United States Department of Energy asset-based home energy score in order to measure 
the performance of the building and not the number or behavior of occupants of the 
building;
B. Rules relating to the report required under subsection 1, including:
(1) The time period an energy auditor has to provide a report of a home energy 
audit to the requestor of the audit; and
(2) Information required to be contained in the report of a home energy audit, 
including the following depicted through graphics:
(a) Home energy score on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the best score;
(b) Amount of estimated energy use by fuel type per year;
(c) Unit prices by fuel type used to calculate the estimated energy costs;
(d) Estimated annual cost of energy by fuel type;
(e) Estimate of current greenhouse gas emissions in carbon dioxide equivalent 
tons per year on a scale of zero to 15;
(f) Itemized recommendations for energy saving improvement in order of 
priority, for which a priority energy saving improvement has an expected full 
economic recoupment in no more than 10 years;
(g) Recommendations for energy saving improvement, such as improving 
insulation to windows, walls, roofs, attics and floors;
(h) Estimated home energy score, estimated energy savings in dollars per year 
and estimated carbon reduction in percent per year after priority energy saving 
improvement are implemented;
(i) Amount of renewable energy generated by the residential building;
(j) Name and contact information of the energy auditor, the energy auditor's 
employer and the energy auditor's certificate number;
(k) Date of the home energy audit and date of the expiration of the home energy 
score;
(l) Address of the residential building audited, the floor area in square feet and 
the year the building was constructed;
(m) A statement indicating that the report meets state standards for home 
energy audits;
(n) A list of other energy efficiency-related certifications for which the 
residential building is qualified; and
(o) A list of applicable rebates or other incentives to achieve greater energy 
efficiency;
C. Rules establishing penalties for violations described in subsection 2; and
D. Requirements for an energy auditor to report to the trust home energy scores and 
requirements for the establishment and maintenance of a database maintained by the 
trust.
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  Efficiency Maine Trust to adopt rules.  The Efficiency Maine Trust shall, 
no later than December 31, 2024, adopt rules required in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
35-A, section 10130, subsection 4.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Efficiency Maine Trust to establish a home energy scoring system 
for residential buildings for the purpose of evaluating a building's energy efficiency and 
relative greenhouse gas emissions.  The bill also provides requirements relating to home 
energy audits.