Rules for the public benefits fee administrator

(a) Any public benefits fee administrator contracted pursuant to section 269-122 shall satisfy the qualification requirements established by the public utilities commission by rule or order. These requirements may include experience and expertise in: (1) Energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies and methods; and (2) Identifying, developing, administering, and implementing demand-side management and energy-efficiency programs. (b) The public benefits fee administrator's duties and responsibilities shall be established by the public utilities commission by rule or order, and may include: (1) Identifying, developing, administering, promoting, implementing, and evaluating programs, methods, and technologies that support energy-efficiency and demand-side management programs; (2) Encouraging the continuance or improvement of efficiencies made in the production, delivery, and use of energy-efficiency and demand-side management programs and services; (3) Using the energy-efficiency expertise and capabilities that have developed or may develop in the State and consulting with state agency experts; (4) Promoting program initiatives, incentives, and market strategies that address the needs of persons facing the most significant barriers to participation; (5) Promoting coordinated program delivery, including coordination with electric public utilities regarding the delivery of low-income home energy assistance, other demand-side management or energy-efficiency programs, and any utility programs; (6) Consideration of innovative approaches to delivering demand-side management and energy-efficiency services, including strategies to encourage third-party financing and customer contributions to the cost of demand-side management and energy-efficiency services; (7) Submitting, to the public utilities commission for review and approval, a multi-year budget and planning cycle that promotes program improvement, program stability, and maturation of programs and delivery resources; and (8) Educating and training appliance manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of appliances covered under part VI of chapter 196 about the appliance efficiency standards established under that part to improve compliance.