(1) Except as provided in section 81 and subject to section 97, an electric provider‘s energy waste reduction programs under this subpart shall collectively achieve incremental energy savings each year through 2021 equivalent to 1.0% of total annual retail electricity sales in megawatt hours in the preceding year.

  (2) If an electric provider uses load management to achieve energy savings under its energy waste reduction plan, the minimum energy savings required under subsection (1) shall be adjusted by an amount such that the ratio of the minimum energy savings to the sum of actual expenditures for implementing its approved energy waste reduction plan and the load management expenditures remains constant.

  (3) Subject to section 97, a natural gas provider‘s energy waste reduction program under this subpart shall achieve annual incremental energy savings each year equivalent to 0.75% of total annual retail natural gas sales in decatherms or equivalent MCFs in the preceding year.

  (4) Incremental energy savings under subsection (1) or (3) for a year shall be determined for a provider by adding the energy savings expected to be achieved by energy waste reduction measures implemented during that year under any energy waste reduction programs consistent with the provider’s energy waste reduction plan. The energy savings expected to be achieved shall be determined using a savings database or other savings measurement approach as determined reasonable by the commission.

  (5) For purposes of calculations under subsection (1) or (3), total annual retail electricity or natural gas sales in a year shall be based on 1 of the following at the option of the provider as specified in its energy waste reduction plan:

  (a) The number of weather-normalized megawatt hours or decatherms or equivalent MCFs sold by the provider to retail customers in this state during the year preceding the year for which incremental energy savings are being calculated.

  (b) The average number of megawatt hours or decatherms or equivalent MCFs sold by the provider during the 3 years preceding the year for which incremental energy savings are being calculated.

  (6) For any year after 2012, an electric provider may substitute renewable energy credits associated with renewable energy generated that year from a renewable energy system constructed after October 6, 2008, load management that reduces overall energy usage, or a combination thereof for energy waste reduction credits otherwise required to meet the energy waste reduction standard, if the substitution is approved by the commission. The commission shall not approve a substitution unless the commission determines that the substitution is cost-effective.

  (7) Renewable energy credits, load management that reduces overall energy usage, or a combination thereof shall not be used by a provider to meet more than 10% of the energy waste reduction standard. Substitutions for energy waste reduction credits shall be made at the rate of 1 renewable energy credit per energy waste reduction credit.