§ 135-d. Scope of plan. 1. Each utility shall adopt and implement a home conservation plan as approved by the commission, and shall offer participation to its customers. The availability of the plan shall be publicized by the utility to encourage customer participation.

2. The commission may provide that any such plan shall provide participating customers with the opportunity to enter into a financing contract and security agreement with the sponsoring utility for the amount financed. If such an agreement is entered into, the commission shall require the payment of interest by each participant on the amount financed by such participant in accordance with the provisions of this article.

3. Each plan shall provide for the installation and financing of one or more types of energy conservation measures and provide for the performance of energy audits.

4. Where any plan includes financing by a utility, any such plan shall include the maximum rate of interest chargeable by the utility on any amounts financed hereunder; allowable repayment periods; probable sources of and methods by which the utility will raise funds to carry out the plan; and such other information and matters as the commission deems necessary and appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this article.

5. The chairman, with the assistance of such public and private entities as he shall select, shall prepare, administer and finance a program to promote wide public awareness of the availability and benefits of the home conservation plans, energy conservation measures and energy audits authorized by this article. Such programs may include, but not be limited to, promotion of the plans, measures and audits through the media and through the utilities. Funds for financing any such program shall be made available to the chairman from moneys provided the department pursuant to the assessment provisions of section eighteen-a of this chapter, provided however, that such funds shall not exceed two million dollars in any state fiscal year and the authorization for using assessment funds to finance any such program shall expire June first, nineteen hundred ninety-six.

6. Each plan shall include a training program and experience requirements for auditors so they are familiar with the energy conservation criteria and energy conservation measures provided by this article. In addition, each plan shall assure that utility employees who regularly deal with the public can provide information about the scope and benefits of the plans.

7. Each plan may include provision for the participation of not-for-profit neighborhood preservation or development organizations in order to promote energy audits and to explain methods of conserving energy to the community.