Register October 2021 No. 790
Chapter PSC 136
ELECTRIC AND GAS CONSERVATION
PSC 136.04 Conservation standards for converting existing structures to natural gas spaceheating service.
PSC 136.06 Conservation standards for conversion of an existing residential structure to an electric spaceheating system.
PSC 136.10 Disconnection or refusal of service.
PSC 136.01
PSC 136.01 General. The requirements of ch.
PSC 136 shall be observed by all public utilities, both privately and publicly owned, engaged in the manufacture, mixing, purchasing, storage, transmission and/or distribution of gaseous fuel, or the supply of electric energy and provision of electric service, except as may be provided in ss.
PSC 136.04 and
136.06.
PSC 136.01 History
History: Emerg. cr. eff. 11-1-79; cr.
Register, February, 1980, No. 290, eff. 3-1-80; am. (2),
Register, February, 1985, No. 350, eff. 3-1-85;
CR 06-046: r. (1), renum. (2) to be PSC 136.01
Register April 2007 No. 616, eff. 5-1-07.
PSC 136.02
PSC 136.02 Definitions. In this chapter:
PSC 136.02(1)
(1) “Accessible" means capable of being reached without removal or major alteration of any part or parts of the permanent structure.
PSC 136.02 Note
Note: Accessible areas include uninsulated areas which can be drilled and plugged.
PSC 136.02(2)
(2) “Conversion" means installation of a permanent electric or gas spaceheating system to replace in whole or in part a spaceheating system which used a different fuel.
PSC 136.02 Note
Note: Conversion includes installation of a dual-fuel or add-on heat pump system but does not include installation of gas or electric heat in new additions to an existing residential structure.
PSC 136.02(3)
(3) “Energy audit" means an energy use analysis for spaceheating which complies with the Residential Conservation Service program for the heating system which has been or will be installed.
PSC 136.02(4)
(4) “Existing residential structure" means a one or two-family dwelling constructed prior to December 1, 1978.
PSC 136.02(5)
(5) “Spaceheating system" means equipment which uses gas or electric energy either directly or through mechanical processes to provide heat for space conditioning.
PSC 136.02(6)
(6) “Unheated area" means a space which is thermally isolated outside a building envelope.
PSC 136.02 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1985, No. 350, eff. 3-1-85.
PSC 136.04
PSC 136.04 Conservation standards for converting existing structures to natural gas spaceheating service. PSC 136.04(1)(1)
The provisions of this section shall apply only to those investor-owned utilities set forth below:
PSC 136.04(2)
(2) Nothing in this section shall preclude special and individual consideration being given to exceptional or unusual situations. The rule may be modified or waived by the public service commission in particular cases whenever said rules are shown to be impracticable for special reasons. Upon due investigation of the facts and circumstances involved and after hearing if required, the commission may order requirements as to individual utilities or service which shall be lesser, greater, other or different from those provided in the rules of this section.
PSC 136.04(3)
(3) Before natural gas spaceheating service can be rendered to existing residential structures converting to a gas spaceheating system, each utility listed in sub.
(1) shall perform an energy audit and require that the following conservation standards be met:
PSC 136.04(3)(a)
(a) Ceiling or attic insulation: If a structure has insulating material with insulation value less than R-19, the customer shall install insulation to a level of R-38. If insulation materials equal to a level of R-38 cannot be installed because of inadequate space between the ceiling and the roof, then as much insulation as space permits shall be installed.
Exception: If the structure has existing insulation material with a value of R-11 or more and the customer is installing batt insulation, the customer need only install additional insulation material with a value of R-19.
PSC 136.04(3)(b)
(b) Sill box area insulation shall be installed to a level of R-19, unless physically impractical.
PSC 136.04(3)(c)
(c) Floor insulation over vented crawl spaces or unheated basements shall reach a level of R-19. In a heated crawl space, insulation materials with an R factor of at least 5 shall be installed on the walls.
PSC 136.04(3)(d)
(d) In unheated areas, insulation shall be installed on all heating ducts, cold air returns, and hot water pipes.
PSC 136.04(3)(f)
(f) All doors exposed to the outside atmosphere shall have a storm door or equivalent insulated door.
PSC 136.04(3)(g)
(g) Weatherstripping shall be installed on all movable doors and windows exposed to an unheated space. Caulking shall be installed whenever 2 different materials or parts of a structure meet, such as chimney openings, around windows and doors, etc.
PSC 136.04(3)(h)
(h) If a new central heating unit is to be installed, the equipment shall meet the energy efficiency requirements of
s. Comm 22.13, which are as follows: Combustion spaceheating equipment shall be provided with electronic ignition and automatic flue dampering, except sealed combustion equipment or equipment located in enclosures and provided with combustion air need not be provided with flue dampering.
PSC 136.04 Note
Note: Section Comm 22.13 no longer exists.
PSC 136.04(3)(i)
(i) Ventilation above the ceiling/attic insulation shall be installed. The free ventilating area shall be at least 1/300 of the horizontal area. One half of the venting should be near the eaves and the other half near the top of the roof.
PSC 136.04(3)(j)
(j) If a structure is unable to meet all required standards, other methods of energy conservation may be substituted such that the energy savings will be the same or greater. This substitution shall be based on heat loss calculations performed in a normally accepted manner. Such substitutions may include but are not limited to the following:
PSC 136.04(3)(j)2.
2. Insulation materials equal to R-5 on the inside walls of a heated basement.
PSC 136.04(4)
(4) Before natural gas service can be rendered for commercial or industrial spaceheating use in buildings constructed before July 1, 1978, each utility listed in sub.
(1) shall require that the following conservation standards be met:
PSC 136.04(4)(a)
(a) Design heat loss, excluding infiltration and ventilation, through above-grade gross walls and roofs facing heated interiors shall not exceed 13 BTU per hour per square foot for the total building envelope;
PSC 136.04(4)(b)
(b) If a building exceeds the heat loss of par.
(a), the building may receive gas service provided that it demonstrates additional innovative building or system designs that will reduce fuel consumption to a level equal to or less than fuel consumption which results from complying with par.
(a);
PSC 136.04(4)(c)
(c) All exterior windows and doors shall be designed to limit leakage into or from the building and shall be weatherstripped; and
PSC 136.04(4)(d)
(d) Special use buildings such as greenhouses, inflatable structures, and the like, or any building exempt from the heating and ventilating requirements of ch.
SPS 363 are exempt from these requirements.
PSC 136.04(5)
(5) Prior to rendering natural gas spaceheating service to an existing rental unit, as defined in s. SPS
367.04 (17), which is converting to natural gas spaceheating, each utility shall inform the rental unit owner of the additional energy efficiency requirements of s.
SPS 367.11. The requirement of this subsection is in addition to subs.
(3) and
(4).
PSC 136.04 Note
Note: Chapter SPS 367 has been repealed.
PSC 136.04 History
History: Emerg. cr. eff. 5-2-80; cr.
Register, January, 1981, No. 301, eff. 2-1-81; cr. (5),
Register, December, 1983, No. 336, eff. 1-1-84; reprinted to correct error,
Register, June, 1984, No. 342; am. (3),
Register, February, 1985, No. 350, eff. 3-1-85; corrections in (3) (h) and (4) (d) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, December 2003, No. 576;
CR 06-046: r. (1) (a), (g) and (j), am. (1) (b) to (f), (h) and (i)
Register April 2007 No. 616, eff. 5-1-07; correction in (5) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register April 2007 No. 616; correction in (4) (d), (5) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register February 2012 No. 674; correction in (5) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register December 2012 No. 684.
PSC 136.06
PSC 136.06 Conservation standards for conversion of an existing residential structure to an electric spaceheating system. PSC 136.06(1)(1)
The provisions of this section shall apply only to those investor-owned utilities set forth below:
PSC 136.06(2)
(2) Nothing in s.
PSC 136.06 shall preclude special and individual consideration being given to exceptional or unusual situations. The rule may be modified or waived by the public service commission in particular cases whenever it is shown to be impracticable for special reasons. Upon due investigation of the facts and circumstances involved and after hearing if required, the commission may order requirements as to individual utilities or service which shall be lesser, greater, other, or different from those provided in the rules of this section.
PSC 136.06(3)
(3) Before electric spaceheating service may be furnished to an existing residential structure converting to an electric spaceheating system, each utility listed in sub.
(1) shall perform an energy audit and require that the following conservation standards be met:
PSC 136.06(3)(a)
(a) Ceiling or attic. If the structure has ceiling or attic insulating material with insulation value less than R-19, the customer shall install insulation to a level of R-38. If inadequate space exists between ceiling and roof to install insulation to the level of R-38, then the customer shall install as much insulation as space permits.
PSC 136.06 Note
Note: If the structure's ceiling or attic is insulated to a value of not less than R-11 and the customer chooses to add batt insulation, the additional insulation need only have a value of R-19.
PSC 136.06(3)(b)
(b) Sill box. Sill box area insulation shall be installed to a level of R-19, unless physically impractical.
PSC 136.06(3)(c)
(c) Floor. In accessible areas, floor insulation over vented crawl spaces or unheated basements shall be installed to a level of R-19. In heated crawl spaces, insulation with an R factor of 5 shall be installed on the walls.
PSC 136.06(3)(d)
(d) Unheated areas. In unheated areas, insulation shall be installed on all heating ducts, cold air returns, and hot water pipes.
PSC 136.06(3)(f)
(f) Outside doors. Each door exposed to the outside atmosphere shall have a storm door or equivalent insulated door.
PSC 136.06(3)(g)
(g) Weatherstripping and caulking. Weatherstripping shall be installed on all movable doors and windows exposed to an unheated space. Caulking shall be installed whenever two different materials or parts of a structure meet, such as areas around chimney openings, around windows and doors, and similar areas.
PSC 136.06(3)(h)
(h) Side walls. Where no insulation exists in accessible outside walls, side wall insulation of R-11 shall be installed.
PSC 136.06(3)(i)
(i) Ventilation. A free ventilating area of not less than 1/300 of the horizontal area shall be installed above ceiling or attic insulation.
PSC 136.06 Note
Note: One-half of venting near the eaves and the other half near the top of the roof is recommended. Where no vapor barrier is present, a free ventilating area of not less than 1/150 of the horizontal area is recommended.
PSC 136.06(3)(j)
(j)
Substituted standards. For existing residential structures unable to meet the conversion standards required by this section, other methods of energy conservation may be substituted if the energy savings are equivalent. Substitutions shall be based on heat loss calculations performed by the utility.
PSC 136.06 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1985, No. 350, eff. 3-1-85.
PSC 136.10
PSC 136.10 Disconnection or refusal of service. Gas or electric service may be disconnected or refused for failure to comply with the regulations contained in this chapter as specified in ss.
PSC 113.0301 and
134.062. If a customer has converted without notifying the appropriate utility and has failed to comply with the requirements of s.
PSC 136.06, the utility may allow the customer not more than 6 months to comply with those requirements.
PSC 136.10 History
History: Emerg. cr. eff. 11-1-79; cr.
Register, February, 1980, No. 290, eff. 3-1-80; am.
Register, February, 1985, No. 350, eff. 3-1-85; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, December 2003, No. 576.
