State-owned or operated heating, cooling or power plants

(1) In this section, “agency” has the meaning given under s. 16.52 (7). (2) The department may: (a) Prepare all specifications, bid and administer contracts for the purchase of fuels for all state-owned or operated heating, cooling or power plants. (b) Coordinate the state fuel and utility management program to maximize the economy of operations of the program. (c) Determine the method of operation of state-owned or operated heating, cooling or power plants, including maintenance standards and policies concerning utilization of alternative fuels and energy conservation. (d) Assure compliance with federal and state laws, federal regulations and state administrative rules applicable to state-owned or operated heating, cooling or power plants. (e) Delegate to any agency the department’s authority under par. (c) or (d) and approve all expenditures of the agency under par. (c) or (d). (f) Review and approve rates charged by any agency for the sale of fuel, water, sewage treatment service, electricity, heat or chilled water under s. 16.93, and the rates at which any agency charges its appropriations for fuel, water, sewage treatment service, electricity, heat or chilled water that the agency provides to itself. (g) Provide for emissions testing, waste product disposal and fuel quality testing at state-owned or operated heating, cooling or power plants, and secure permits that are required for operation of the plants. (h) Periodically assess to agencies their proportionate cost of the expenses incurred by the department under this subsection and ss. 16.85 (4), 16.90, 16.91 and 16.92 in accordance with a method of apportionment determined by the department.