§ 8123. Definitions

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Carbon intensity value” means the amount of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy of fuel expressed in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule (gCO2e/MJ).

(2) “Clean heat credit” means a tradeable, nontangible commodity that represents the amount of greenhouse gas reduction attributable to a clean heat measure. The Commission shall establish a system of management for clean heat credits pursuant to this chapter.

(3) “Clean heat measure” means fuel delivered and technologies installed to end-use customers in Vermont that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the thermal sector. Clean heat measures shall not include switching from one fossil fuel use to another fossil fuel use. The Commission may adopt a list of acceptable actions that qualify as clean heat measures.

(4) “Commission” means the Public Utility Commission.

(5) “Customer with low income” means a customer with a household income of up to 60 percent of the area or statewide median income, whichever is greater, as published annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or a customer who qualifies for a government-sponsored, low-income energy subsidy.

(6) “Customer with moderate income” means a customer with a household income between 60 percent and 120 percent of the area or statewide median income, whichever is greater, as published annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(7) “Default delivery agent” means an entity designated by the Commission to provide services that generate clean heat measures.

(8) “Energy burden” means the annual spending on thermal energy as a percentage of household income.

(9) “Entity” means any individual, trustee, agency, partnership, association, corporation, company, municipality, political subdivision, or any other form of organization.

(10) “Fuel pathway” means a detailed description of all stages of fuel production and use for any particular fuel, including feedstock generation or extraction, production, transportation, distribution, and combustion of the fuel by the consumer. The fuel pathway is used in the calculation of the carbon intensity value and lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of each fuel.

(11) “Heating fuel” means fossil-based heating fuel, including oil, propane, natural gas, coal, and kerosene.

(12) “Obligated party” means:

(A) A regulated natural gas utility serving customers in Vermont.

(B) For other heating fuels, the entity that imports heating fuel for ultimate consumption within the State, or the entity that produces, refines, manufactures, or compounds heating fuel within the State for ultimate consumption within the State. For the purpose of this section, the entity that imports heating fuel is the entity that has ownership title to the heating fuel at the time it is brought into Vermont.

(13) “Thermal sector” has the same meaning as the “Residential, Commercial and Industrial Fuel Use” sector as used in the Vermont Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast and does not include nonroad diesel or any other transportation or other fuel use categorized elsewhere in the Vermont Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast. (Added 2023, No. 18, § 3, eff. May 12, 2023.)