42-12-1.5. Transfer of functions from the office of energy resources.

(b) The department is authorized to request advisory assistance from the office of energy

resources in order to maintain continuity of assistance provided to LIHEAP eligible households

pursuant to § 39-2-1(d).

SECTION 12. Section 42-140-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-140 entitled "Rhode

Island Energy Resources Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

17 42-140-3. Purposes.

The purposes of the office shall be to:

(1) Develop and put into effect plans and programs to promote, encourage, and assist the

provision of energy resources for Rhode Island in a manner that enhances economic well-being,

social equity, and environmental quality;

(2) Monitor, forecast, and report on energy use, energy prices, and energy demand and

supply forecasts, and make findings and recommendations with regard to energy supply diversity,

reliability, and procurement, including least-cost procurement;

(3) Develop and to put into effect plans and programs to promote, encourage, and assist

the efficient and productive use of energy resources in Rhode Island, and to coordinate energy

programs for natural gas, electricity, and heating oil to maximize the aggregate benefits of

conservation and efficiency of investments;

(4) Monitor and report technological developments that may result in new and/or improved

sources of energy supply, increased energy efficiency, and reduced environmental impacts from

energy supply, transmission, and distribution;

(5) Administer the programs, duties, and responsibilities heretofore exercised by the state

energy office, except as these may be assigned by executive order or the general laws to other

departments and agencies of state government;

(6) Develop, recommend, and, as appropriate, implement integrated and/or comprehensive

strategies, including at regional and federal levels, to secure Rhode Island’s interest in energy

resources, their supply and efficient use, and as necessary to interact with persons, private sector,

nonprofit, regional, federal entities and departments and agencies of other states to effectuate this

purpose;

(7) Cooperate with agencies, departments, corporations, and entities of the state and of

political subdivisions of the state in achieving its purposes;

(8) Cooperate with and assist the state planning council and the division of state planning

in developing, maintaining, and implementing state guide plan elements pertaining to energy and

renewable energy;

(9) Coordinate the energy efficiency, least-cost procurement, and systems reliability plans

and programs with the energy efficiency and resources management council;

(10) Participate in, monitor implementation of, and provide technical assistance for the

low-income home energy assistance program enhancement plan established pursuant to § 39-1-

27.12;

(11) Participate in and monitor the distributed generation standard contracts program

pursuant to chapter 26.2 of title 39;

(12) (11) Coordinate opportunities with and enter into contracts and/or agreements with the

commerce corporation associated with the energy efficiency, least-cost procurement, system

reliability, and renewable energy fund programs;

(13) (12) Provide support and information to the division of planning and the state planning

council in the development of a ten-year (10) Rhode Island Energy Guide Plan, which shall be

reviewed and amended if necessary every five (5) years;

(13) Administer the federal Weatherization Assistance Program and any state or privately

funded weatherization program;

(14) Advise and provide technical assistance to state and federally funded energy programs

to support:

(i) The federal low-income home energy assistance program which provides heating

assistance to eligible low-income persons and any state funded or privately funded heating

assistance program of a similar nature assigned to it for administration;

(ii) The weatherization assistance program which offers home weatherization grants and

heating system upgrades to eligible persons of low-income;

(iii) The emergency fuel program which provides oil deliveries to families experiencing a

heating emergency;

(iv) The energy conservation program, which offers service and programs to all sectors;

(v) [Deleted by P.L. 2008, ch. 228, § 2, and P.L. 2008, ch. 422, § 2.]

(15) Advise the commerce corporation in the development of standards and rules for the

solicitation and award of renewable energy program investment funds in accordance with § 42-64-

13.2;

(16) Develop, recommend, and evaluate energy programs for state facilities and operations

in order to achieve and demonstrate the benefits of energy-efficiency, diversification of energy

supplies, energy conservation, and demand management; and

(17) Advise the governor and the general assembly with regard to energy resources and all

matters relevant to achieving the purposes of the office.

SECTION 13. Chapter 42-140 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Energy

Resources Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: