4.__Preparation of manual.__The commission shall prepare the Manual of Accepted Practices, as described in Title 10, section 1415-F.

5.__Review; inspection.__The commission may review plans and specifications and may inspect buildings to determine compliance with the energy conservation standards established in Title 10, chapter 214.

6.__Rule-making authority.__If the Residential Conservation Service, as established by the federal National Energy Conservation Policy Act, Public Law 95-619, (1978), 92 Stat. 3206 as amended by the federal Energy Security Act, Public Law 96-294, (1980), 94 Stat. 611, is repealed or amended by deleting the requirements for providing energy conservation information and energy audits and arranging financing for energy conservation improvements for residential customers, the commission may adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to continue these services. In establishing these rules, the commission shall simplify federal rules without preventing fulfillment of the program objectives and the commission may not impose rules containing additional requirements for utilities.

Until the commission adopts new rules under this subsection, the previously existing federal regulations and any state rules implementing them are deemed state rules with full force and effective until changed.

Sec. RR-11. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§68, as amended by PL 1995, c. 281, §16, is repealed.

Sec. RR-12. Transition provisions; Public Utilities Commission.

1. The Public Utilities Commission is the successor in every way to the powers, duties and functions of the former Energy Conservation Division of the Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of Business Development.

2. All existing rules, regulations and procedures in effect, in operation or adopted in or by the former Energy Conservation Division or any of its administrative units or officers are hereby declared in effect and continue in effect until rescinded, revised or amended by the proper authority.