§ 3154. Adoption of standards

(a)(1) Rulemaking authority. The Department of Public Service shall adopt by rule, modify, revise, update, and maintain Vermont energy-efficiency standards with respect to new products installed in the State by a contractor or other construction professional or sold at retail in the State. These standards in every instance shall be designed to ensure consumers’ easy access to new products that meet consumers’ needs and preferences and that will be cost effective. These shall be minimum standards and shall not preempt stricter standards otherwise duly established by State or local authority.

(2) Federal action. If federal legislation is passed prior to July 1, 1993 that requires adoption of light bulb standards that are substantially equivalent to those required under this chapter, and they are required to be in effect by July 1, 1995, the Department may forego adoption of the rules required under this chapter. If federal standards are not, in fact, in effect as of July 1, 1995, the Department shall proceed with adoption of standards required under this chapter.

(b) Standards for new products. By no later than July 1, 1993, the Department shall adopt rules establishing energy-efficiency standards for new products, so that each new product covered by those standards shall consume less power in watts per unit of light output in lumens than a maximum reference level to be established by the Department. These rules shall ensure that the standards allow for new products whose fit, availability, and performance are substantially the equivalent of products currently on the market and whose energy savings compensate for any increased cost. If substantially equivalent fit, availability, and performance is not readily attainable in these new products, the rules shall allow products currently on the market to continue to be sold at retail and installed by contractors and construction professionals in the State.

(c) Inventory. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a retailer may sell light bulbs from the retailer’s stock as it existed on the effective date of the prohibitions established in this chapter. (Added 1991, No. 259 (Adj. Sess.), § 12.)