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<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="7-225" title_number="7" title_name="Gas, Electric, and Water Companies" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Electric Generation Facility Planning">
  <level label="a">
    <text>As soon as possible in 2024, and at least 8 months before the filing deadline for plans after 2024, the Commission shall issue an order that determines the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets required under § 7–223(b) of this subtitle and the greenhouse gas emissions reductions required under § 7–224(a)(2) of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>If directed by the Commission in 2024, and on or before July 1 every 3 years, starting in 2026, each electric company subject to § 7–222(a) of this subtitle that submitted a plan for achieving electricity savings and demand reduction targets to the Commission before July 1, 2024, and the Department, shall consult with the technical staff of the Commission, the Office of People’s Counsel, the Maryland Energy Administration, and the Department of the Environment regarding the design and adequacy of its plans for achieving the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets established by the Commission under § 7–223(b) of this subtitle and specified in § 7–224(a)(2) of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>On or before October 1, 2024, and on or before July 1 every 3 years, starting in 2026, each electric company subject to § 7–222(a) of this subtitle that did not submit a plan for achieving electricity savings and demand reduction targets to the Commission before July 1, 2024, shall comply with the consulting requirements under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Each electric company subject to § 7–222(a) of this subtitle shall provide the technical staff of the Commission, the Office of People’s Counsel, the Maryland Energy Administration, and the Department of the Environment with any additional information regarding its plan, as requested.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>If directed by the Commission in 2024, and on or before September 1 every 3 years, starting in 2026, each electric company subject to § 7–222(a) of this subtitle that submitted a plan for achieving electricity savings and demand reduction targets to the Commission before July 1, 2024, and the Department, shall submit its plan to the Commission.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>On or before December 1, 2024, and on or before September 1 every 3 years, starting in 2026, each electric company that did not submit a plan for achieving electricity savings and demand reduction targets to the Commission before July 1, 2024, shall submit its plan to the Commission.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Each plan shall detail a proposal for achieving greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 3 subsequent calendar years.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Each plan shall:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>include:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>a description of the proposed programs and services;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>anticipated costs;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>projected benefits, including greenhouse gas emissions reductions and electricity savings; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="D">
          <text>any other information requested by the Commission; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>address residential, commercial, and industrial sectors as appropriate, including low–income communities.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A plan of the Department shall include:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a definition of “low–income individual” to be used in the procurement or provision of energy efficiency, conservation, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction programs and services;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a description of the steps proposed to ensure insulation materials meet the requirements under § 7–224 of this subtitle; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>a proposed average lifetime measure threshold that:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>encourages the delivery of insulation and weatherization measures; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>is developed through a stakeholder engagement process.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A plan of an electric company shall include the provision or procurement of programs and services for residential beneficial electrification.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Commission shall review the plan of each electric company and the Department to determine whether the plan is adequate and cost–effective in achieving the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets established by the Commission under §§ 7–223(b) and 7–224(a)(2) of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commission shall consider any written findings provided by the Maryland Energy Administration, the Department of the Environment, and the Office of People’s Counsel regarding the design and adequacy of the plan.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, in approving, modifying, or denying the plan of an electric company, the Commission shall consider:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the cost–effectiveness of the residential, commercial, and industrial sector subportfolios by using:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the primary State jurisdiction–specific test, as developed, updated, or approved by the Commission, to determine the cost–effectiveness of a program or service prospectively, including consideration of:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>participant nonenergy benefits;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>utility nonenergy benefits; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>societal nonenergy benefits; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a total resource cost test to compare the electricity savings and demand reduction targets of the program or service with the results of similar programs or services implemented in other jurisdictions, including:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>participant nonenergy benefits; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>utility nonenergy benefits;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the impact on rates of each ratepayer class;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the impact on jobs;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the impact on the environment; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>the impact on the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets specified in Title 2, Subtitle 12 of the Environment Article, established by the Commission under §§ 7–223(b) and 7–224(a)(2) of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Nonenergy benefits considered under paragraph (3) of this subsection shall be quantifiable and directly related to a program or service.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <level label="i">
        <text>In approving, modifying, or denying the plan of the Department, the Commission shall consider:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the cost–effectiveness of the plan by using the primary State jurisdiction–specific test, as developed, updated, or approved by the Commission;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the impact on rates of each ratepayer class;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>the impact on jobs;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>the impact on the environment; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>the impact on the greenhouse gas emissions targets specified in Title 2, Subtitle 12 of the Environment Article, established by the Commission under § 7–223(b) of this subtitle, and specified in § 7–224(a)(2) of this subtitle.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The programs and services offered by the Department are not required to be cost–effective.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Department of the Environment shall prepare and submit to the Commission an analysis regarding the adequacy of the plan in supporting the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals specified in Title 2, Subtitle 12 of the Environment Article, established by the Commission under § 7–223(b) of this subtitle, and required under § 7–224(a)(2) of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
</section>
