A. No public utility which has for one of its purposes the sale or distribution of energy may include promotional payments in its operating expenses for ratemaking purposes.

B. For purposes of subsection A of this section:

1. "Promotional payment" means any payment, gift or other remuneration made directly or indirectly by a public utility to or for the account of any builder or other person to encourage or induce such builder or other person to install appliances including, but not limited to, space heaters, heat pumps, clothes dryers, water heaters and stoves and equipment which will consume any energy sold or marketed by such public utility;

2. "Promotional payment" shall not mean payments, gifts or other remuneration made for conservation or load management programs or energy-efficient appliances and equipment introduction programs approved by the Corporation Commission;

3. "Public utility" means any individual, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or any combination thereof, other than a municipal corporation, or their lessees, trustees and receivers, owning or operating for compensation in this state equipment or facilities for:

a. producing, generating, transmitting, distributing, selling or furnishing electricity, or

b. transmitting directly or indirectly or distributing combustible hydrocarbon natural or synthetic natural gas for sale to the public; and

4. "Appliances" and "equipment" mean those individual appliances and space-conditioning equipment introduced by manufacturers after November 9, 1978, which operate at a level of efficiency at least twenty percent (20%) greater than appliances and space-conditioning equipment of the same energy type manufactured prior to that date.

Laws 1977, c. 227, § 1; Laws 1981, c. 294, § 2.