A public utility may seek authorization from the department of energy, either individually or in combination with other public utilities, to establish loan, financing, or cost amortization programs for owners and tenants of residential, public, nonprofit, and business property to finance or otherwise amortize cost effective fuel neutral renewable energy and energy efficiency investments and improvements to the owner’s or tenant’s premises. The total amount loaned in such programs shall not exceed $5,000,000. The department shall authorize terms, conditions, and tariffs for the repayment of such loans and financed or underwritten investments and improvements through charges billed through and that run with the meter or meters assigned to the location where the investments are located, provided that such investments or improvements to a tenant’s premises are only made with the written consent of the owner or the owner’s authorized management representative. Pursuant to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 477:4-h, the owner, seller, lessor, or transferor of any real property subject to unamortized or ongoing charges under such a tariff shall disclose such fact to a prospective buyer, lessee, or occupant who might be responsible for paying such charges as a condition of utility service. A public utility may not finance these loan, financing, or cost amortization programs through its rate base, nor earn its regulated rate of return on such program investments and improvements to the owner’s or tenant’s premises, unless such investment is approved as part of a strategy for minimizing transmission and distributions costs pursuant to RSA 374-G.