Section 40. Promotional allowance program standards

1. Any utility offering a promotional allowance program shall adhere to the following standards:

a. The promotional allowance program shall not vary the rates, charges and schedules of the tariff under which service is rendered to the customer.

b. A utility may not, directly or indirectly, offer or grant to a customer any form of promotional allowance except as is uniformly and contemporaneously extended to all customers in the same reasonably defined class.

c. Any utility promotional allowance program should be designed in such a manner so as to minimize the potential for placing private businesses at an undue competitive disadvantage.

d. To the extent applicable, any appliances or equipment promoted by a utility under a promotional allowance program shall have energy efficiency ratings which meet or exceed current federal standards as contained in the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (Public Law 100-12), or any subsequent amendments thereof. The Commission may, at its discretion, impose other standards for appliances or equipment promoted under a utility promotional allowance program.

e. Any utility proposing a promotional allowance program that would have a significant effect on the sales levels of an alternative energy supplier shall consider the effect of the program on that supplier, and demonstrate that the program serves the overall public interest.

Historical Notes

Derived from Case No. PUE900070 §IV, eff. March 27, 1992.

Statutory Authority

§§ 56-235.1 and 56-235.2 of the Code of Virginia.