Code of Maine Rules › 95 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES › 648 - EFFICIENCY MAINE TRUST › Chapter 930 - SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY REBATE PROGRAM › Section 648-930-5 - REBATE DISTRIBUTION

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
The Commission shall distribute rebates for qualifying solar
				  and wind energy systems pursuant to this Chapter as long as funds are available
				  in the solar and wind energy rebate program fund. To the extent that there are
				  insufficient funds in the solar and wind energy rebate program, the Commission
				  shall distribute available funds as specified in this section.
A.
Application Approval
The Commission shall distribute rebates based on the date the
				  Commission approves the application for a solar and wind energy rebate system
				  pursuant to section 6 of this Chapter.
B.
Available Funds
The Commission shall post on the Efficiency Maine website the
				  amount of funds that are available for solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and
				  wind energy systems as well as either the projected time periods for which the
				  funds will be available for rebates or the number of rebates that will be
				  awarded based upon available funding. The Commission shall inform applicants
				  that the availability of future rebates could be altered by changes in law or
				  contingent upon available funding. In the event that, due to statutory repeal,
				  insufficient funds, or any other reason, the solar or wind energy rebate
				  program lacks sufficient funding with which to fund rebates, the Commission
				  shall post notice on the Efficiency Maine website that rebates for the subject
				  programs are no longer available and that the subject programs are cancelled or
				  suspended in accordance with subsection (C) below. In the event that there are
				  insufficient funds in the solar and wind energy system rebate program fund at
				  the time that the Commission determines that a wind energy system or solar
				  energy system is eligible for a rebate, the Commission shall distribute the
				  rebate after subsequent assessment pursuant to Section 4 of this Chapter result
				  in sufficient funds.
C.
Suspension or Cancellation of Programs
The Commission is not obligated to approve any application
				  for a wind or solar energy rebate that otherwise complies with the requirements
				  of this Chapter, if such approval may result in the Commission exceeding its
				  program budget or would be contrary to existing laws. The Commission may
				  suspend or cancel a solar or wind energy rebate program if, at any time, there
				  are insufficient funds in the solar and wind energy rebate program fund. In the
				  event that a program is cancelled or suspended, the Commission shall notify
				  applicants and the general public in the following manner:
1
Notice to applicants whose materials
				have been submitted.
For persons who have submitted applications to the
				Commission prior to the suspension or cancellation of a program, and whose
				applications have not been processed prior to suspension or cancellation of the
				program, the Commission shall notify each applicant in writing that the program
				has been suspended and shall indicate whether and how the applicant will be
				considered in the future when the program resumes or whether the applicant will
				need to submit a new application when additional funds become
				available.
2
Notice to
				prospective applicants and the public.
For persons who have not
				submitted applications prior to cancellation or suspension of a program and the
				general public, the Commission will post notice of such suspension or
				cancellation on the Efficiency Maine website. The Commission shall update this
				webpage periodically and as necessary in order to ensure that information is
				timely and accurate. The Commission shall post such notification on Efficiency
				Maine website when the program is anticipated to resume and when applications
				may be submitted.