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Rep. Tackey Chan files bill to require DPU energy-efficiency training for commercial building managers
Summary
A bill filed in the Massachusetts House would require the Department of Public Utilities to include statewide education and training for commercial building managers in its energy efficiency plan, set committee oversight, split training costs between utilities and attendees, and require programs to start by Sept. 1, 2026.
Representative Tackey Chan of Quincy filed legislation Jan. 10, 2025, that would require the Department of Public Utilities to include statewide education and training for commercial building managers and operators in its energy-efficiency plan. The bill, filed as House No. 3460 (House Docket No. 675), would amend subsection (b)(2) of section 21 of chapter 25 of the General Laws to add the training requirement.
The training would teach managers how to achieve greater energy efficiency and reduced energy use across electricity, natural gas and heating oil, using interactive methods, case studies and subject-matter experts. Sessions may be offered in person and online and may cover metering, tracking, monitoring and economic analysis of reduced energy use.
An advisory committee of five members would approve programs and provide oversight: two building operators or managers named by the Greater Boston Real Estate Board; two energy-efficiency experts named jointly by electric and natural gas distribution companies and the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council; and one member named jointly by the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council, who would serve as chair.
Distribution companies would report to the committee every six months on program utilization and attendee feedback. The bill specifies a cost-sharing arrangement in which distribution companies use monies from energy-efficiency funding to cover the majority of training costs and attendees pay no more than 30 percent of the costs. The bill also requires the plan to include tuition reimbursement for approved programs for building operators and engineers.
The bill lists several existing programs that the training component may consider, including the Association of Energy Engineers, the Building Operators Certificate Program and the Building Owners and Managers Institute, but it also allows other similar programs to be used if approved by the committee.
Section 2 of the bill states that the measure would take effect immediately upon enactment and that the required education and training sessions must begin to be offered no later than Sept. 1, 2026. The filing also notes similar matter was filed in the previous legislative session as House No. 4540 (2023-2024).
The bill, as introduced, is a legislative proposal and not an enacted change. It was filed with the House on Jan. 10, 2025, and would require further action by the Legislature and the Department of Public Utilities to become operative.
