S 219 — An act relating to an energy navigator program report

BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.219 Page 1 of 46 S.219 AnIntroduced actby relatingSenators toHardy, anWatson energyand navigatorWhite programReferred reportto ItCommittee ison herebyNatural enactedResources byand theEnergy GeneralDate: Assembly of the State of Vermont:

January 8, 2026 Subject:

Public service;

energy;

energy efficiency Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:

This bill proposes to direct Efficiency Vermont to study the creation of a community-based energy navigator program statewide.

An act relating to an energy navigator program report It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:

REPORT (a) In collaboration with existing community-based energy navigator programs in Vermont, such as the Climate Economy Action Center of Addison County, Efficiency Vermont shall design a Vermont community-based home energy navigator and coaching program that will provide in-person and remote energy coaching services to residential consumers in communities statewide.

Efficiency Vermont shall consult with the Vermont State Energy Office, the Vermont Climate Action Office, Vermont’s community action agencies, the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network, Vermont’s electric utilities, and BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.219 Page 2 of 6 other states, including Connecticut and Massachusetts, that have experience with community-based energy programs.

For the purposes of this section, “residential consumers” includes homeowners, landlords, and renters.

(b) The program shall:

(1) provide guidance to residential consumers, particularly those with low and moderate incomes, to better understand and navigate energy efficiency and clean energy investment options to affordably meet their home energy needs;

(2) advise residential consumers on accessing available grants, rebates, financing, and other assistance programs and incentives to meet their home energy needs;

(3) assist residential consumers in prioritizing identified energy-saving opportunities, including through the integration of weatherization strategies to reduce heating and cooling loads that could minimize the need for the installation of new equipment and lower future electric demands on the grid;

(4) help residential consumers connect to local contractors and review and analyze contractor recommendations regarding cost, payment, and other relevant factors;

(5) advise residential consumers in person, as necessary, and over time, recognizing that hands-on coaching help may be needed at a consumer’s home and over several years;

BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.219 Page 3 of 6 (6) provide ongoing State funding to support the operations of community-based energy coaching programs;

and (7) use available grant funds and private partnerships to support program implementation.

(c) On or before January 15, 2027, Efficiency Vermont shall submit a report on the program design to the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.

The report shall include a description of the design of the program, which could include the creation of a pilot program or expansion and support of existing community-based programs, a description of the technical assistance and educational materials to be developed as part of the program, an estimate of program costs, funding sources to provide ongoing support to community- based energy coaching programs, a target number of residential consumers to be served by the program, energy and emissions savings that will result from the program, and a proposed timeline for the implementation of the program.

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2.

APPROPRIATIONS (a) In fiscal year 2027, the sum of $15,000.00 is appropriated from the General Fund to Efficiency Vermont for the energy navigator program report.

(b) In fiscal year 2027, the sum of $150,000.00 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Climate Economy Action Center to collaborate with Efficiency Vermont on the energy navigator program design;

continue to BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.219 Page 4 of 6 develop its community-based energy navigator resources, programming, and expertise;

and support the expansion of its Energy Navigator Program to a neighboring county.

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3.

EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

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1.

ENERGY NAVIGATOR PROGRAM;

The Department’s consultant shall consult with Efficiency Vermont, the Vermont State Energy Office, the Vermont Climate Action Office, Vermont’s community action agencies, the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network, Vermont’s electric utilities, community-community-based based home energy navigator and coaching programs, and other states, including Connecticut and Massachusetts, that have experience with VT LEG #388123 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.219 Page 2 of 4 community-based energy programs.

(3) assist residential consumers in prioritizing identified energy-saving opportunities, including through the integration of weatherization strategies to BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.219 Page 5 of 6 reduce heating and cooling loads that could minimize the need for the installation of new equipment and lower future electric demands on the grid;

VT LEG #388123 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.219 Page 3 of 4 (6) provide recommendations for how the program would provide ongoing State funding to support the operations of community-based energy coaching programs;

and (7)(6) recommendprovide anyrecommendations grantfor fundshow andthe privateprogram partnershipswould thatprovide mayongoing befunding available to support programthe implementation.operations of community-based energy coaching programs;

and (7) use available grant funds and private partnerships to support program implementation.

(7) recommend any grant funds and private partnerships that may be available to support program implementation.

CONTIGENCYAPPROPRIATIONS OF(a) FUNDINGIn Thefiscal dutyyear 2027, the sum of $25,000.00 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Service to hire athe third-party consultant asfor describedthe inenergy Sec.navigator report.

(b) In fiscal year 2027, the sum of $10,000.00 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Climate Economy Action Center to collaborate with the Department of Public Service on the energy navigator program design.