Chapter 16

16.95(6) (6) Stimulate the consideration and possible use of creative techniques and actions that may better accomplish the objectives of this section.

16.95(7) (7) Evaluate the plans of all state agencies, identify both duplication and program gaps in the plans and measure the agency plans with the state goals enacted by the governor and the legislature.

16.95(8) (8) Advise and assist the governor and the legislature in establishing long-range development policies and programs in considering state agency plans with regard to those policies and programs.

16.95(9) (9) Develop and submit to the governor’s office and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, as determined by the speaker of the assembly and the president of the senate on or before September 1 of each even-numbered year a 5-year and 10-year plan for the resolution of the energy needs of low-income households. The department shall consult with the public service commission, the department of health services and other agencies and groups related to low-income energy assistance. The department shall include in each plan, without limitation due to enumeration, items such as target populations, income eligibility, goals and funding.

16.95(10) (10) Assist in implementing agency plans in accordance with policies and programs established by the governor and the legislature.

16.95(11) (11) Administer federal planning grants for state planning, when so designated by the governor pursuant to s. 16.54. The department may contract with other state agencies for the preparation of all or part of a facet of the state plan which is financed in whole or in part by federal planning grants.

16.95(13) (13) Implement the priorities under s. 1.12 (4) in designing the department’s energy programs and in awarding grants or loans for energy projects.

16.95(14) (14) By rule, establish a standardized method for measuring the energy efficiency of the state’s economy to be used in preparing the report under sub. (15). In establishing the methodology, the department shall consider methodologies currently in use for this purpose, including the methodology used by the world bank.

16.95(15) (15) Before April 1 annually, submit a report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) regarding progress made in meeting the energy efficiency goal under s. 1.12 (3) (a).

16.95(16) (16) Require public utilities to provide the department with energy billing and use data regarding public schools, if the department determines that the data would facilitate any effort by the department to administer or provide energy assistance for public schools, including any effort to direct energy assistance to public schools with the highest energy costs.

16.95 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1985 a. 29; 1993 a. 414; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 2001 a. 16; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2011 a. 32; 2017 a. 136.

16.953 16.953 Energy cost reduction plans. No later than July 1 of each even-numbered year, each agency, as defined in s. 16.75 (12) (a) 1., shall submit a plan to the department, the joint committee on finance, and the standing committee of each house of the legislature having jurisdiction over energy, for reduction of the cost of energy used by the agency. The plan shall include all system and equipment upgrades or installations that are estimated to result in energy cost savings equal to the cost of the upgrade or installation over the anticipated life of the system or equipment. The plan shall also identify potential means of financing the upgrades and installations other than reliance on appropriations of general purpose revenues. The department of administration shall consider in its plan the means of financing allowed under s. 16.858.

16.953 History History: 2005 a. 141.

16.956 16.956 Diesel truck idling reduction grants.

16.956(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

16.956(1)(a) (a) “Common motor carrier” has the meaning given in s. 194.01 (1).

16.956(1)(b) (b) “Contract motor carrier” has the meaning given in s. 194.01 (2).

16.956(1)(c) (c) “Idling reduction unit” means a device that is installed on a diesel truck to reduce the long-duration idling of the truck by providing heat, air conditioning, or electricity to the truck while the truck is stationary and the main drive engine of the truck is not operating.

16.956(1)(d) (d) “Post-1998 diesel truck engine” means a heavy-duty highway diesel engine that complies with the air pollutant emission standards promulgated by the federal environmental protection agency under 42 USC 7521 for engine model year 1998 or a later engine model year.

16.956(1)(e) (e) “Private motor carrier” has the meaning given in s. 194.01 (11).

16.956(1)(f) (f) “Truck tractor” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (73).

16.956(2) (2) Authority. Beginning on July 1, 2006, and ending on June 30, 2020, the department may award a grant to an eligible applicant for the purchase and field testing of one or more idling reduction units as provided in subs. (3) and (4).

16.956(3) (3) Eligible applicants. An applicant is eligible for a grant under this section only if all of the following apply:

16.956(3)(a) (a) The applicant is a common motor carrier, contract motor carrier, or private motor carrier that transports freight.

16.956(3)(b) (b) The applicant is headquartered in this state.

16.956(3)(c) (c) The applicant pays 50 percent of the eligible costs for each idling reduction unit covered by a grant under this section without the use of grants, loans, or other financial assistance from this state or from a local governmental unit in this state.

16.956(3)(d) (d) The applicant agrees to collect information relating to the operation and performance of each idling reduction unit covered by a grant under this section, as required by the department, and to report that information to the department.

16.956(4) (4) Grants.

16.956(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the costs that an applicant has incurred or will incur to purchase and install an idling reduction unit on a truck tractor that is owned and operated by the applicant and that has a post-1998 diesel truck engine are eligible costs under this section if the use of the idling reduction unit will result, in the aggregate, in a decrease in the emissions of one or more air contaminants, as defined in s. 285.01 (1), from the truck tractor on which the idling reduction unit is installed or in a decrease in the use of energy by the truck tractor on which the idling reduction unit is installed.

16.956(4)(b) (b) The following costs are not eligible costs:

16.956(4)(b)1. 1. The cost of shipping an idling reduction unit from the manufacturer to the facility where the idling reduction unit will be installed on the truck tractor.

16.956(4)(b)2. 2. The cost of operating an idling reduction unit.

16.956(4)(b)3. 3. The cost of maintaining an idling reduction unit.

16.956(4)(cm) (cm) Subject to par. (d), the department may make grants under this section from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2020, of 50 percent of the eligible costs for an idling reduction unit installed on a truck tractor, unless the department has previously awarded a grant under this section for an idling reduction unit installed on the truck tractor.

16.956(4)(d) (d) In any fiscal year, the department may not pay to any one applicant more than 20 percent of the amount appropriated under s. 20.505 (1) (sa) for the fiscal year.

16.956(4)(e) (e) The department may pay a grant over more than one fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds and to par. (d).

16.956(5) (5) Information. The department shall collect information from recipients of grants under this section relating to the operation and performance of idling reduction units. The department shall summarize the information collected and make it available to common motor carriers, contract motor carriers, and private motor carriers in an accessible and cost-effective manner, such as on department’s Internet site.

16.956(5m) (5m) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of the program under this section.

16.956(6) (6) Sunset. Subsections (2) to (4) do not apply after December 31, 2021.

16.956 History History: 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32 ss. 3335 to 3338; Stats. 2011 s. 101.45; 2013 a. 20 s. 1710; Stats. 2013 s. 16.956; 2013 a. 173; 2015 a. 55.

16.956 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 94, Wis. adm. code.

16.9565 16.9565 Electric vehicle charging stations.

16.9565(1) (1) In this section:

16.9565(1)(a) (a) “Level 1 charger” means a device with one or more charging ports and connectors for charging electric vehicles that operates on a circuit up to 120 volts and transfers alternating current electricity to a device in an electric vehicle that converts alternating current to direct current to recharge an electric vehicle battery.

16.9565(1)(b) (b) “Level 2 charger” has the meaning given for “AC Level 2” under 23 CFR 680.104.

16.9565(1)(c) (c) “Level 3 charger” means a direct current fast charger, as defined under 23 CFR 680.104, and analogous successor technologies.

16.9565(1)(d) (d) “State agency” means an association, authority, board, department, commission, independent agency, institution, office, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law.

16.9565(2) (2) 

16.9565(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no state agency may own, operate, or lease an electric vehicle charging station containing a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 charger unless the charger is not available to the public and is used solely to charge vehicles owned or leased by a state agency.

16.9565(2)(b) (b) A state agency may own, operate, manage, or lease an electric vehicle charging station at which a Level 1 charger or Level 2 charger is available to the public if the state agency makes all Level 1 chargers or Level 2 chargers available for public use free of any charge.

16.9565(3) (3) Notwithstanding sub. (2), a state agency may authorize an electric provider, as defined in s. 16.957 (1) (f), or a person described in s. 196.01 (5) (b) 8. to own and operate an electric vehicle charging station at which a Level 1 charger, Level 2 charger, or Level 3 charger is available to the public on property owned by the state agency.

16.9565(4) (4) An electric provider, as defined in s. 16.957 (1) (f), or a person described in s. 196.01 (5) (b) 8. who is authorized under sub. (3) to own and operate an electric vehicle charging station at which a Level 1 charger, Level 2 charger, or Level 3 charger is available to the public on property owned by a state agency, shall charge a reasonable fee for the electricity delivered or placed by all such chargers.

16.9565(5) (5) Notwithstanding sub. (2), a state agency may own, operate, manage, or lease an electric vehicle charging station at which a Level 1 charger or a Level 2 charger installed on or after March 22, 2024, is available to the public if the state agency charges a reasonable fee for the electricity delivered or placed by all such Level 1 chargers and Level 2 chargers.

16.9565 History History: 2023 a. 121.

16.957 16.957 Low-income assistance.

16.957(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

16.957(1)(bm) (bm) “Commission” means the public service commission.

16.957(1)(c) (c) “Commitment to community program” means a program by or on behalf of a municipal utility or retail electric cooperative for low-income assistance.

16.957(1)(f) (f) “Electric provider” means an electric utility or retail electric cooperative.

16.957(1)(g) (g) “Electric utility” means a public utility that owns or operates a retail electric distribution system.

16.957(1)(gr) (gr) “Federal assistance” means, for a fiscal year, all moneys received from the federal government under 42 USC 6861 to 6873 and 42 USC 8621 to 8629 in the fiscal year.

16.957(1)(i) (i) “Fiscal year” has the meaning given in s. 655.001 (6).

16.957(1)(k) (k) “Local unit of government” means the governing body of any county, city, town, village or county utility district or the elected tribal governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band.

16.957(1)(L) (L) “Low-income assistance” means assistance to low-income households for weatherization and other energy conservation services, payment of energy bills or early identification or prevention of energy crises.

16.957(1)(m) (m) “Low-income household” means any individual or group of individuals in this state who are living together as one economic unit and for whom residential electricity is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for electricity in the form of rent, and whose household income is not more than 60 percent of the statewide median household income.

16.957(1)(n) (n) “Low-income need” means the amount obtained by subtracting from the total low-income energy bills in a fiscal year the product of 2.2 percent of the estimated average annual income of low-income households in this state in that fiscal year multiplied by the estimated number of low-income households in this state in that fiscal year.

16.957(1)(o) (o) “Low-income need percentage” means the percentage that results from dividing the sum of the following by the amount of low-income need in fiscal year 1998-99:

16.957(1)(o)1. 1. The federal assistance in fiscal year 1997-98.

16.957(1)(o)1m. 1m. The amount of the portion of the public benefits fee for fiscal year 1999-2000 that is specified in s. 16.957 (4) (c) 1., 1999 stats.

16.957(1)(o)2. 2. The total amount expended by utilities under s. 196.374, 2003 stats., related to low-income assistance.

16.957(1)(o)3. 3. Fifty percent of the amount of public benefits fees that municipal utilities and retail electric cooperatives were required to charge under s. 16.957 (5) (a), 1999 stats., in fiscal year 1999-2000.

16.957(1)(p) (p) “Low-income need target” means the product of the low-income need percentage multiplied by low-income need in a fiscal year.

16.957(1)(q) (q) “Municipal utility” means an electric utility that is owned wholly by a municipality and that owns a retail distribution system.

16.957(1)(qm) (qm) “Public utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (5).

16.957(1)(s) (s) “Retail capacity” means the total amount of electricity that an electric provider is capable of delivering to its retail customers or members and that is supplied by electric generating facilities owned or operated by the electric provider or any other person. “Retail capacity” does not include any electricity that is not used to satisfy the electric provider’s retail load obligations.

16.957(1)(t) (t) “Retail electric cooperative” means a cooperative association that is organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of providing electricity at retail to its members only and that owns or operates a retail electric distribution system.

16.957(1)(u) (u) “Total low-income energy bills” means the total estimated amount that all low-income households are billed for residential electricity, natural gas and heating fuel in a fiscal year.

16.957(1)(v) (v) “Wholesale electric cooperative” means a cooperative association that is organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of providing electricity at wholesale to its members only.

16.957(1)(w) (w) “Wholesale supplier” means a wholesale electric cooperative or a municipal electric company, as defined in s. 66.0825 (3) (d), that supplies electricity at wholesale to a municipal utility or retail electric cooperative.

16.957(1)(x) (x) “Wholesale supply percentage” means the percentage of the electricity sold by a wholesale supplier that is purchased by a municipal utility or retail electric cooperative.

16.957(2) (2) Department duties. The department shall do all of the following:

16.957(2)(a) (a) Low-income programs. After holding a hearing, establish programs to be administered by the department for awarding grants from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (3) (r) to provide low-income assistance. In each fiscal year, the amount awarded under this paragraph shall be sufficient to ensure that an amount equal to 50 percent of the sum of the following is allocated for weatherization and other energy conservation services:

16.957(2)(a)2. 2. All moneys spent in a fiscal year for low-income programs established under s. 196.374, 2003 stats.

16.957(2)(a)3. 3. The moneys collected in low-income assistance fees under sub. (4) (a).

16.957(2)(a)4. 4. The moneys collected in low-income assistance fees under sub. (5) (a).

16.957(2)(c) (c) Rules. Promulgate rules establishing all of the following:

16.957(2)(c)1. 1. Eligibility requirements for low-income assistance under programs established under par. (a). The rules shall prohibit a person who receives low-income assistance from a municipal utility or retail electric cooperative under a program specified in sub. (5) (b) 1. from receiving low-income assistance under programs established under par. (a).

16.957(2)(c)2. 2. Requirements and procedures for applications for grants awarded under programs established under par. (a).

16.957(2)(c)5. 5. A method for estimating total low-income energy bills, average annual income of low-income households and the number of low-income households in a fiscal year for the purpose of determining the amount of low-income need in the fiscal year.