National Energy Conservation Incentives Act

(Reported to House from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce with amendment, H. Rept. 96-727 (Part I)) National Energy Conservation Incentives Act - =Title I: Amendments to Utility Program Coverage of Program= - Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to authorize the Secretary of Energy, after January 1, 1982, to require any utility program for residential energy conservation developed under such Act to apply to additional residential buildings containing more than four units, and certain commercial and agricultural buildings described in this Act. Allows a State to disapprove such application. Permits a local regulatory authority to disapprove such application in the case of non-regulated utilities, subject to override by the States Governor. Conditions the making of financial assistance payments available under title II of this Act in any State upon such State's adoption of procedures for post-installation inspections of residential energy measures installed pursuant to this Act and the National Energy Conservation Policy Act. Amends the requirements for approval of proposed residential energy conservation plans to require that contractors or suppliers of residential energy conservation measures seeking to be included on the list of approved contractors and suppliers provide one year warranties on materials and installation of such measures. Requires that the list of lending institutions offering financial assistance for the purchase and installation of such conservation measures indicate the availability at each such institution of assistance provided under the Energy Conservation Bank Act. Amends the requirements under such Act concerning accounting and payment of costs of operating a utility program under such Act. Authorizes public utilities to make loans or capital investment payments to residential building owner customers for the purchase and installation of residential energy conservation measures under specified conditions. Amends the accounting and payment of costs provisions of such Act to provide for the financing of such loans and capital investment payments. States that the utility program provisions of the National Energy Conservation Act shall supersede State and local law only to the extent necessary to enable public utilities to carry out an approved program. Authorizes the Tennessee Valley Authority to carry out responsibilities under such provisions of those public utilities whose rates are regulated by that entity. Stipulates that neither the Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission, nor any other agency shall be barred from challenging anticompetitive acts or practices related to activities conducted under this Act nor shall any person be deemed to have immunities or defenses to actions under the antitrust laws as a result of the provisions of this Act. Provides that amendments made to the utility program of such Act by this Act shall not apply to any activities carried out pursuant to an exemption or waiver of the prohibitions against installation or financing of residential energy conservation. Establishes effective dates for the issuance of regulations implementing the provisions of this Act by the Secretary of Energy, Governors or State regulatory agencies, and nonregulated utilities. Directs the Secretary of Energy to provide assistance to States for the training of residential building inspectors undertaking inspections required by this Act. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 through 1982 to carry out this title. =Title II: Financial Assistance Provided by the Energy Conservation Bank= - Energy Conservation Bank Act - Establishes the Energy Conservation Bank in the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide financial assistance with respect to loans made to owners of existing commercial and residential buildings for the purchase and installation of energy conserving improvements in such buildings. Authorizes the Bank to provide such assistance in the form of payments to financial institutions and public utilities providing financing pursuant to the National Energy Conservation Policy Act. Sets forth criteria for providing such assistance and terms, conditions, and maximum amounts thereof. Establishes as part of the Bank an Advisory Committee to provide advice to the Board of Directors of the Bank on matters concerning energy conservation assistance. Directs the Bank to promote the program established by this Act and to coordinate its efforts with the Department of Energy. Directs the Board to issue an annual report to the Congress and the President discussing the operations of the Bank, identifying problems encountered in the energy conservation industry, the Federal Government, and financial institutions concerning energy conservation, making recommendations for improvement in the Bank's operations, and other matters. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to permit the Bank to use personnel of such Department for the purpose of carrying out this Act. Establishes penalties for fraud and misrepresentation with respect to loans assisted under this Act. Authorizes the use of funds from the Energy Security Trust Fund to provide assistance under this title. Sets forth limitations an the amount of such funds available for each of the fiscal years 1980 through 1983. Authorizes appropriations for use before the establishment of such Fund for which the Fund shall reimburse the Treasury. =Title III: Secondary Financing= - Requires that the Board direct the Bank to make commitments to purchase, and to purchase and to service, sell, and otherwise deal in loans and advances of credit made under this Act and the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to residential building owners for the purchase of energy conserving improvements. Authorizes the Bank to issue obligations to enable the Bank to carry out its functions. Exempts transactions authorized under this Act from State or local usury or loan insurance laws. Repeals specified provisions of the National Housing Act which authorize the Government National Mortgage Association to purchase energy conserving improvement loans. Amends the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act to authorize such Corporation to purchase, make commitments to purchase, and to hold, deal with, sell, and otherwise dispose of mortgages or interest therein held by any public utility acting under a utility program pursuant to the National Energy Conservation Policy Act the original proceeds of which are applied for in order to finance energy conserving improvements. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act to authorize such association to exercise powers similar to those granted above to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. =Title IV: Weatherization Program= - Amends the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976 to limit the amount of any grant made under such Act to be used for administrative purposes. Amends such Act to increase the amount of payment which may be made to pay volunteers, trainees, and public employment workers not participating under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 but available to work on weatherization projects in the event there are insufficient participants under such program. Requires the coordination of activities related to rehabilitation, weatherization, and code enforcement conducted by local governments including activities undertaken pursuant to the Housing and Community Development Act and related to energy assistance programs for low-income families, including programs under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Directs the Secretary to establish standards and procedures for weatherization programs under such Act in a manner designed to accomplish uniform results among all the States in similar climate areas. Directs the President to designate the Secretary of Energy to assure that the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Health, Education and Welfare, Defense, the Administrator of the General Services Administration and other heads of agencies responsible for developing energy conservation standards reach a consensus on establishing criteria for developing such standards. Directs the President to make annual reports to the Congress on the activities relating to coordination of Federal energy conservation programs. Makes technical amendments to the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976. Raises from $100 to $200 the limit on incidental repairs which may be made in the course of weatherizing a building.

Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Reported to House amended, Part I" stage on December 20, 1979. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.

Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.