(a) On or before July 1, 2008, the Commission shall adopt regulations governing the purchase of liquid-immersed distribution transformers by electric companies.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the regulations shall be consistent with the regulations adopted by the U.S. Department of Energy.

(c) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the regulations shall ensure that, subject to availability, purchases of liquid-immersed distribution transformers by electric companies occurring on or after January 1, 2009, are based on the life-cycle cost methodology contained in Section 2 of Standard TP-1-2002 published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

(2) The regulations adopted under this section may not apply to an electric cooperative that supplies electricity to less than 60,000 electric meters in the State.

(d) For electric companies that maintain inventories of distribution transformers in the State for installation in adjacent service areas outside of the State, the Commission may also consider additional inventory management costs as costs for inclusion within the life-cycle cost methodology to be used by electric companies for purposes of this section.