{"identifier":"/us/usc/t15/s3203","title":15,"num":"\u00a7\u202f3203.","heading":"Adoption of certain standards","text":"\u00a7\u202f3203.\nAdoption of certain standards\n(a)\nAdoption of standards\nNot later than 2 years after\n(1) adopt the standard established by subsection (b)(1), if, and to the extent, such authority or nonregulated utility determines that such adoption is appropriate and is consistent with otherwise applicable State law, and\n(2) adopt the standards established by paragraphs (2), (3)\n2\n2 So in original. A comma probably should appear.\nFor purposes of any determination under paragraphs (1) and (2) and any review of such determination in any court under\nsection 3207 of this title\n(b)\nEstablishment\nThe following Federal standards are hereby established:\n(1)\nProcedures for termination of natural gas service\nNo gas utility may terminate natural gas service to any gas consumer except pursuant to procedures described in\nsection 3204(a) of this title\n(2)\nAdvertising\nNo gas utility may recover from any person other than the shareholders (or other owners) of such utility any direct or indirect expenditure by such utility for promotional or political advertising as defined in\nsection 3204(b) of this title\n(3)\nIntegrated resource planning\nEach gas utility shall employ, in order to provide adequate and reliable service to its gas customers at the lowest system cost. All plans or filings of a State regulated gas utility before a State regulatory authority to meet the requirements of this paragraph shall (A) be updated on a regular basis, (B) provide the opportunity for public participation and comment, (C) provide for methods of validating predicted performance, and (D) contain a requirement that the plan be implemented after approval of the State regulatory authority. Subsection (c) shall not apply to this paragraph to the extent that it could be construed to require the State regulatory authority to extend the record of a State proceeding in submitting reports to the Federal Government.\n(4)\nInvestments in conservation and demand management\nThe rates charged by any State regulated gas utility shall be such that the utility\u2019s prudent investments in, and expenditures for, energy conservation and load shifting programs and for other demand-side management measures which are consistent with the findings and purposes of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 are at least as profitable (taking into account the income lost due to reduced sales resulting from such programs) as prudent investments in, and expenditures for, the acquisition or construction of supplies and facilities. This objective requires that (A) regulators link the utility\u2019s net revenues, at least in part, to the utility\u2019s performance in implementing cost-effective programs promoted by this section; and (B) regulators ensure that, for purposes of recovering fixed costs, including its authorized return, the utility\u2019s performance is not affected by reductions in its retail sales volumes.\n(5)\nEnergy efficiency\nEach natural gas utility shall\u2014\n(A) integrate energy efficiency resources into the plans and planning processes of the natural gas utility; and\n(B) adopt policies that establish energy efficiency as a priority resource in the plans and planning processes of the natural gas utility.\n(6)\nRate design modifications to promote energy efficiency investments\n(A)\nIn general\nThe rates allowed to be charged by a natural gas utility shall align utility incentives with the deployment of cost-effective energy efficiency.\n(B)\nPolicy options\nIn complying with subparagraph (A), each State regulatory authority and each nonregulated utility shall consider\u2014\n(i) separating fixed-cost revenue recovery from the volume of transportation or sales service provided to the customer;\n(ii) providing to utilities incentives for the successful management of energy efficiency programs, such as allowing utilities to retain a portion of the cost-reducing benefits accruing from the programs;\n(iii) promoting the impact on adoption of energy efficiency as 1 of the goals of retail rate design, recognizing that energy efficiency must be balanced with other objectives; and\n(iv) adopting rate designs that encourage energy efficiency for each customer class.\nFor purposes of applying the provisions of this chapter\n3\n3 See Codification note below.\n3\nNovember 9, 1978\nDecember 19, 2007\n(c)\nProcedural requirements\nEach State regulatory authority (with respect to each gas utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated gas utility, within the 2-year period specified in subsection (a), shall adopt, pursuant to subsection (a), each of the standards established by subsection (b), or, with respect to any such standard which is not adopted, such authority or nonregulated gas utility shall state in writing that it has determined not to adopt such standard, together with the reasons for such determination. Such statement of reasons shall be available to the public.\n(d)\nSmall business impacts\nIf a State regulatory authority implements a standard established by subsection (b)(3) or (4), such authority shall\u2014\n(1) consider the impact that implementation of such standard would have on small businesses engaged in the design, sale, supply, installation, or servicing of energy conservation, energy efficiency, or other demand-side management measures, and\n(2) implement such standard so as to assure that utility actions would not provide such utilities with unfair competitive advantages over such small businesses.","url":"https://projectusc.org/usc/t15/s3203.html","content":[{"t":"sec","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203","children":[{"t":"num","text":"\u00a7\u202f3203."},{"t":"heading","text":"Adoption of certain standards"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/a","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(a)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Adoption of standards"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"Not later than 2 years after ","children":[{"t":"text","text":"November 9, 1978","tail":" (or after "},{"t":"text","text":"October 24, 1992","tail":", in the case of standards under paragraphs (3),"},{"t":"ref","text":"1"},{"t":"num","text":"1","tail":"\u202fSo in original. The comma probably should not appear."},{"t":"text","text":"\u202fSo in original. The comma probably should not appear.","tail":" and (4) of subsection (b)), each State regulatory authority (with respect to each gas utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated gas utility shall provide public notice and conduct a hearing respecting the standards established by subsection (b), and, on the basis of such hearing, shall\u2014"}]},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/a/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"content","text":" adopt the standard established by subsection (b)(1), if, and to the extent, such authority or nonregulated utility determines that such adoption is appropriate and is consistent with otherwise applicable State law, and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/a/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"content","text":" adopt the standards established by paragraphs (2), (3)\u202f","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"2"},{"t":"num","text":"2","tail":"\u202fSo in original. A comma probably should appear."},{"t":"text","text":"\u202fSo in original. A comma probably should appear.","tail":" (4), (5), and (6) of subsection (b), if, and to the extent, such authority or nonregulated utility determines that such adoption is appropriate to carry out the purposes of this chapter, is otherwise appropriate, and is consistent with otherwise applicable State law."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n\n"},{"t":"continuation","text":"For purposes of any determination under paragraphs (1) and (2) and any review of such determination in any court under ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 3207 of this title","href":"/us/usc/t15/s3207","tail":", the purposes of this chapter supplement State law. Nothing in this subsection prohibits any State regulatory authority or non\u00adregulated utility from making any determination that it is not appropriate to implement any such standard, pursuant to its authority under otherwise applicable State law."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(b)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Establishment"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"The following Federal standards are hereby established:"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Procedures for termination of natural gas service"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"No gas utility may terminate natural gas service to any gas consumer except pursuant to procedures described in ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 3204(a) of this title","href":"/us/usc/t15/s3204/a","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Advertising"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"No gas utility may recover from any person other than the shareholders (or other owners) of such utility any direct or indirect expenditure by such utility for promotional or political advertising as defined in ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 3204(b) of this title","href":"/us/usc/t15/s3204/b","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/3","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(3)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Integrated resource planning"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"Each gas utility shall employ, in order to provide adequate and reliable service to its gas customers at the lowest system cost. All plans or filings of a State regulated gas utility before a State regulatory authority to meet the requirements of this paragraph shall (A) be updated on a regular basis, (B) provide the opportunity for public participation and comment, (C) provide for methods of validating predicted performance, and (D) contain a requirement that the plan be implemented after approval of the State regulatory authority. Subsection (c) shall not apply to this paragraph to the extent that it could be construed to require the State regulatory authority to extend the record of a State proceeding in submitting reports to the Federal Government.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/4","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(4)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Investments in conservation and demand management"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The rates charged by any State regulated gas utility shall be such that the utility\u2019s prudent investments in, and expenditures for, energy conservation and load shifting programs and for other demand-side management measures which are consistent with the findings and purposes of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 are at least as profitable (taking into account the income lost due to reduced sales resulting from such programs) as prudent investments in, and expenditures for, the acquisition or construction of supplies and facilities. This objective requires that (A) regulators link the utility\u2019s net revenues, at least in part, to the utility\u2019s performance in implementing cost-effective programs promoted by this section; and (B) regulators ensure that, for purposes of recovering fixed costs, including its authorized return, the utility\u2019s performance is not affected by reductions in its retail sales volumes.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/5","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(5)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Energy efficiency"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"Each natural gas utility shall\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/5/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" integrate energy efficiency resources into the plans and planning processes of the natural gas utility; and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/5/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" adopt policies that establish energy efficiency as a priority resource in the plans and planning processes of the natural gas utility.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/6","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(6)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Rate design modifications to promote energy efficiency investments"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/6/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"heading","text":"In general"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The rates allowed to be charged by a natural gas utility shall align utility incentives with the deployment of cost-effective energy efficiency.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/6/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Policy options"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"In complying with subparagraph (A), each State regulatory authority and each nonregulated utility shall consider\u2014"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/6/B/i","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(i)"},{"t":"content","text":" separating fixed-cost revenue recovery from the volume of transportation or sales service provided to the customer;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/6/B/ii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(ii)"},{"t":"content","text":" providing to utilities incentives for the successful management of energy efficiency programs, such as allowing utilities to retain a portion of the cost-reducing benefits accruing from the programs;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/6/B/iii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(iii)"},{"t":"content","text":" promoting the impact on adoption of energy efficiency as 1 of the goals of retail rate design, recognizing that energy efficiency must be balanced with other objectives; and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/b/6/B/iv","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(iv)"},{"t":"content","text":" adopting rate designs that encourage energy efficiency for each customer class.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n\n"},{"t":"continuation","text":"For purposes of applying the provisions of this chapter\u202f","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"3"},{"t":"num","text":"3","tail":"\u202fSee Codification note below."},{"t":"text","text":"\u202fSee Codification note below.","tail":" to this paragraph, any reference in this chapter\u202f"},{"t":"ref","text":"3","tail":" to "},{"t":"text","text":"November 9, 1978","tail":", shall be treated as a reference to "},{"t":"text","text":"December 19, 2007","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/c","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(c)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Procedural requirements"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"Each State regulatory authority (with respect to each gas utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated gas utility, within the 2-year period specified in subsection (a), shall adopt, pursuant to subsection (a), each of the standards established by subsection (b), or, with respect to any such standard which is not adopted, such authority or nonregulated gas utility shall state in writing that it has determined not to adopt such standard, together with the reasons for such determination. Such statement of reasons shall be available to the public.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/d","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(d)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Small business impacts"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"If a State regulatory authority implements a standard established by subsection (b)(3) or (4), such authority shall\u2014"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/d/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"content","text":" consider the impact that implementation of such standard would have on small businesses engaged in the design, sale, supply, installation, or servicing of energy conservation, energy efficiency, or other demand-side management measures, and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s3203/d/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"content","text":" implement such standard so as to assure that utility actions would not provide such utilities with unfair competitive advantages over such small businesses.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"}]}]}