95- 648 C.M.R. ch. 930, § 5

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 648-930-5 - REBATE DISTRIBUTION

The Commission shall distribute rebates for qualifying solar and wind energy systems pursuant to this Chapter as long as funds are available in the solar and wind energy rebate program fund. To the extent that there are insufficient funds in the solar and wind energy rebate program, the Commission shall distribute available funds as specified in this section.

A.Application Approval

The Commission shall distribute rebates based on the date the Commission approves the application for a solar and wind energy rebate system pursuant to section 6 of this Chapter.

B.Available Funds

The Commission shall post on the Efficiency Maine website the amount of funds that are available for solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and wind energy systems as well as either the projected time periods for which the funds will be available for rebates or the number of rebates that will be awarded based upon available funding. The Commission shall inform applicants that the availability of future rebates could be altered by changes in law or contingent upon available funding. In the event that, due to statutory repeal, insufficient funds, or any other reason, the solar or wind energy rebate program lacks sufficient funding with which to fund rebates, the Commission shall post notice on the Efficiency Maine website that rebates for the subject programs are no longer available and that the subject programs are cancelled or suspended in accordance with subsection (C) below. In the event that there are insufficient funds in the solar and wind energy system rebate program fund at the time that the Commission determines that a wind energy system or solar energy system is eligible for a rebate, the Commission shall distribute the rebate after subsequent assessment pursuant to Section 4 of this Chapter result in sufficient funds.

C.Suspension or Cancellation of Programs

The Commission is not obligated to approve any application for a wind or solar energy rebate that otherwise complies with the requirements of this Chapter, if such approval may result in the Commission exceeding its program budget or would be contrary to existing laws. The Commission may suspend or cancel a solar or wind energy rebate program if, at any time, there are insufficient funds in the solar and wind energy rebate program fund. In the event that a program is cancelled or suspended, the Commission shall notify applicants and the general public in the following manner:

1Notice to applicants whose materials have been submitted. For persons who have submitted applications to the Commission prior to the suspension or cancellation of a program, and whose applications have not been processed prior to suspension or cancellation of the program, the Commission shall notify each applicant in writing that the program has been suspended and shall indicate whether and how the applicant will be considered in the future when the program resumes or whether the applicant will need to submit a new application when additional funds become available.

2Notice to prospective applicants and the public. For persons who have not submitted applications prior to cancellation or suspension of a program and the general public, the Commission will post notice of such suspension or cancellation on the Efficiency Maine website. The Commission shall update this webpage periodically and as necessary in order to ensure that information is timely and accurate. The Commission shall post such notification on Efficiency Maine website when the program is anticipated to resume and when applications may be submitted.

95- 648 C.M.R. ch. 930, § 5