(a) There shall be a Low-Income Energy Advisory Board which shall consist of the following members or their designees: (1) A representative of each electric and gas public service company designated by each such company; (2) the chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority; (3) the Consumer Counsel; (4) the executive director of Operation Fuel; (5) the executive director of Infoline; (6) the director of the Connecticut Local Administrators of Social Services; (7) the executive director of Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut; (8) the Connecticut state director of AARP; (9) a designee of the Norwich Public Utility; (10) a designee of the Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association; (11) two representatives of water companies as defined in section 25-32a, designated by the Connecticut Water Works Association; (12) the executive director of the Connecticut Fair Housing Center; (13) the executive director of the Center for Children’s Advocacy; (14) the executive director of the Connecticut Green Building Council; and (15) two representatives of the community action agencies administering energy assistance programs under contract with the Department of Social Services, designated by the Connecticut Association for Community Action. The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the Commissioners of Social Services and Energy and Environmental Protection, or their designees, shall serve as nonvoting members of the board.

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(b) The Low-Income Energy Advisory Board shall advise and assist the Office of Policy and Management and the Department of Social Services in the planning, development, implementation and coordination of energy-assistance-related programs and policies and low-income weatherization assistance programs and policies, shall advise the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection regarding the impact of utility rates and policies, and shall make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding (1) legislation and plans subject to legislative approval, and (2) administration of the block grant program authorized under the Low-Income Energy Assistance Act, as described in section 16a-41a, to ensure affordable access to residential energy services to low-income state residents.

(c) The board shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its voting members.

(d) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or his or her designee, shall provide notice of meetings to the members of the Low-Income Energy Advisory Board, provide space for such meetings, maintain minutes and publish reports of the board.

(e) The Low-Income Energy Advisory Board shall convene and devise recommendations to improve the implementation of heating assistance programs, particularly those created to benefit low-income households, through coordination and optimization of existing energy efficiency and energy assistance programs. Such recommendations shall consider: (1) How the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Department of Social Services, community action agencies, as defined in section 17b-885, electric distribution companies, as defined in section 16-1, and municipal electric utilities, as defined in section 7-233b, can securely share heating assistance program applicant data, with respect to customer energy usage levels, past participation and eligibility for energy assistance and energy efficiency programs, and other data deemed relevant to improve coordination among such programs and program administrators; (2) the costs and benefits of current energy assistance and energy efficiency programs and how to maximize customer benefits through such customers’ participation in any combination of energy assistance and energy efficiency programs; (3) how to streamline the application process for energy assistance and energy efficiency program applicants and the possible development of joint electronic applications; (4) how to make energy assistance and energy efficiency programs more accessible and feasible for tenants in rental housing units, including, but not limited to, how to best secure landlord permission for such services; and (5) coordination efforts to best improve boiler and furnace replacement programs. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Low-Income Energy Advisory Board shall report such recommendations, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy, appropriations and human services.