(a) The Department of Public Service shall carry out an accreditation process for home energy rating organizations, in consultation with representatives of interested parties, including builders, building designers, mortgage lenders, real estate licensees, home appraisers, utilities, nonutility fuel suppliers, the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, and contractors who provide home energy rating services. As part of the accreditation process, the Department of Public Service shall consider any national home energy rating system guidelines and shall determine whether each provider of home energy ratings in the State of Vermont complies with the accreditation criteria adopted pursuant to this section.

(b) Once the Department of Public Service carries out an accreditation process pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, no organization may provide home energy rating services in the State unless the organization has been accredited by the Department.

(c) The Department shall consult with the organizations described in subsection (a) of this section to facilitate a public information program to inform homeowners, renters, sellers, and others regarding the accreditation process and of the statewide home energy rating organizations accredited by the Department. (Added 1997, No. 20, § 1; recodified 2013, No. 89, § 11.)