Bill Text: CA AB1431 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Energy efficiency: renewable energy resources: energy affordability.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2018-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB1431 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB1431-Amended.html
of of, the various state and state-supervised programs
that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities to promote energy efficiency, including weatherization, programs to promote utilization of renewable energy resources, and rate assistance programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities.
programs. If the commission determines that any additional state entity administers or supervises programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities to promote energy efficiency, promote utilization of renewable energy resources, or provide rate assistance that is targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities, assistance, the commission shall invite that entity to participate in the working group. The commission shall be the lead agency in organizing the working group and scheduling meetings of the working group.
Bill Title: Energy efficiency: renewable energy resources: energy affordability.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2018-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB1431 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB1431-Amended.html
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Amended
IN
Assembly
April 06, 2017 |
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Amended
IN
Assembly
March 29, 2017 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION
| Assembly Bill | No. 1431 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula |
February 17, 2017 |
An act to add Sections 25229 and 25328 to the Public Resources Code, relating to energy.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1431, as amended, Arambula.
Energy efficiency: renewable energy resources: energy affordability.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law requires the PUC to supervise certain low-income targeted energy efficiency programs and rate assistance programs administered by electrical corporations, gas corporations, or 3rd-party administrators. Existing law requires the PUC to ensure that not less than 10% of the funds for the California Solar Initiative are utilized for the installation of solar energy systems, as defined, on low-income residential housing, as defined. Pursuant to this requirement, the PUC adopted decisions that established the Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes Program (SASH) and the Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing Program (MASH), pursuant to which the electrical corporations provide monetary incentives for the installation of
solar energy systems on low-income residential housing. The SASH and MASH programs will operate until December 31, 2021, or until funds collected for those purposes are exhausted, whichever occurs sooner.
The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) with various responsibilities with respect to developing and implementing the state’s energy policies. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, by January 1, 2017, to complete a study on barriers to, and opportunities for, solar photovoltaic energy generation as well as barriers to, and opportunities for, access to other renewable energy by low-income customers and barriers to contracting opportunities for local small businesses in disadvantaged communities. Existing law additionally requires the Energy Commission, by January 1, 2017, to develop and publish a study on barriers for
low-income customers to energy efficiency and weatherization investments, including those in disadvantaged communities, as well as recommendations on how to increase access to energy efficiency and weatherization investments to low-income customers. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, beginning November 1, 2003, and every 2 years thereafter, to adopt an integrated energy policy report which includes an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state, including supply, demand, pricing, reliability, efficiency, and impacts on public health and safety, the economy, resources, and the environment.
Under existing law, the Department of Community Services and Development administers certain low-income energy programs, including the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, and the Energy Efficiency Low-Income Weatherization Program.
Existing law
requires a local publicly owned electric utility to streamline enrollment for low-income programs by collaborating with existing providers for the LIHEAP and other electric or gas providers within the same service territory.
Existing federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law establishes the State Utility Assistance Subsidy, a state-funded energy assistance program to provide energy assistance benefits to eligible CalFresh households so that each may receive a standard utility allowance to be used to help meet its energy costs and receive information about energy efficiency. To the extent required by federal law, existing law requires the Department of Community Services and Development to delegate authority over the program to
the State Department of Social Services.
This bill would require the Energy Commission to organize a working group with the PUC, the Department of Community Services and Development, the State Department of Social Services, energy utilities, as defined, 3rd-party administrators, as defined, and representatives of community-based organizations or other entities involved in outreach for, or implementation of of, the various state and state-supervised programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities, including programs to promote
energy efficiency, including weatherization, programs to promote utilization of renewable energy resources, and rate assistance programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities. programs. The bill would designate the Energy Commission to be the lead agency in organizing the working group and scheduling meetings of the working group. The bill would require the working group to evaluate the effectiveness of energy programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities, including programs to promote energy efficiency, including weatherization,
programs to promote utilization of renewable energy resources, and rate assistance programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities. programs. If the working group reaches a consensus that legislative action is desirable to improve access to, or participation in, any program, or to improve the effectiveness of any program in any other aspect, the working group would be required to hold a meeting or meetings at which interested members of the public may comment on proposed improvements to the program prior to the working group making recommendations to the Legislature for changes to improve the program.
This bill would require each
energy utility and 3rd-party administrator to provide the Energy Commission with that information requested by the Energy Commission concerning their respective programs
that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities to promote energy efficiency or
efficiency, promote utilization of renewable energy resources resources, provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure, or provide rate assistance that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities, assistance, as specified. The bill would require the Energy Commission to include a summary of this information in its biennial integrated energy policy report. By imposing requirements that would be applicable to local publicly owned electric and gas utilities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would
require the Energy Commission, the Department of Community Services and Development, and the State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the
Government Operations Agency and the PUC, to jointly develop standardized data reporting requirements for state-administered energy programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities, including programs to promote energy efficiency, programs to promote utilization of renewable energy resources, programs to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and rate assistance programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities.
programs. The bill would require that the data include specified information and be reported to the Government Operations Agency and the Energy Commission. The bill would require the Energy Commission Government Operations Agency
to make aggregate data available on its Internet Web site and require the Energy Commission to include a summary derived from the data in the integrated energy policy report. The bill would require the Energy Commission to develop a database broken down by ZIP Code or other available organizational means that will enable the Energy Commission to respond accurately to an individual legislator who seeks information as to the results of programs to promote energy efficiency, promote utilization of renewable energy resources, provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure, or provide rate assistance assistance, in regard
to low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities within the district that the individual legislator represents.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 25229 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:25229.
(a) The commission shall organize a working group with the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Community Services and Development, the State Department of Social Services, energy utilities, third-party administrators, and representatives of community-based organizations or other entities involved in outreach for, or implementation(b) The working group shall, on an on-going basis, evaluate the effectiveness of programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities to promote energy efficiency, including weatherization, programs to promote utilization of renewable energy resources, and rate assistance programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities.
programs. If the working group reaches a consensus that legislative action is desirable to improve access to, or participation in, any program, or to improve the effectiveness of any program in any other aspect, the working group shall hold a meeting or meetings at which interested members of the public may comment on proposed improvements to any program prior to making recommendations to the Legislature for changes to improve the program.
(c) For purposes of this section, “energy utility,” “rate assistance program,” and “third-party administrator” have the same meanings as defined in Section 25328.
SEC. 2.
Section 25328 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:25328.
(a) For purposes of this section and Section 25229, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) Providing “electric vehicle charging infrastructure” means providing for the installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment for charging vehicles powered by electricity and any alterations or improvement to the electrical grid necessary to accommodate the equipment.
(1)
(2) “Energy utility” means an “electrical corporation” as defined in Section 218, a “gas corporation” as defined in Section 222, a “local publicly owned electric utility” as defined in Section 224.3, of the Public Utilities Code, and a local publicly owned gas utility.
(2)
(3) “Rate assistance program” means the California Alternate Rates for Energy program, the Family Electric Rate Assistance Program, the State Utility Assistance Subsidy program, or any other program that results in a ratepayer paying a lower amount for electricity or gas consumed by the ratepayer based upon that ratepayer’s
income.
(3)
(4) “Third-party administrator” means a community choice aggregator or other entity, other than an electrical corporation or gas corporation, approved by the Public Utilities Commission to administer programs providing energy-efficiency-related services or incentives for eligible solar energy systems to end users using moneys collected by an electrical corporation or gas corporation from ratepayers or moneys made available pursuant to Section 748.5 of the Public Utilities Code.
(b) Each energy utility and third-party
administrator shall provide the commission with that information requested by the commission concerning their respective programs
that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities to promote energy efficiency, promote utilization of renewable energy resources, provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure, or provide rate assistance that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities. assistance. The commission shall require an energy utility and third-party administrator to, at least annually, provide the commission with the following information for each program:
(1) The number of customers that qualify for the program,
an explanation as to how that number was determined, and the number of customers receiving benefits pursuant to the program.
(2) The activities undertaken or benefits provided.
(3) The moneys expended, with a breakdown for activity or benefits costs and administrative or transaction costs. For these purposes transaction costs are those costs that are not for goods or services to or for those receiving benefits under the program.
(4) Where applicable, the number of businesses that received benefits.
(5) How many single-family residences received benefits.
(6) How many multifamily residences received
benefits and the number of residential units in those residences.
(7) Where applicable, those disadvantaged communities targeted and the number of businesses, single-family residences, and multifamily residences receiving benefits.
(8) The results of the activities undertaken and benefits provided, including a measure of any energy savings or self-generation.
(9) Any additional information that the commission determines is necessary or useful to evaluate the effectiveness of the programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities to promote energy efficiency, promote utilization of renewable energy
resources, or rate affordability that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities. provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure, or provide rate affordability.
(c) The commission shall include a summary of the information provided by energy utilities and third-party administrators pursuant to subdivision (b) in the integrated energy policy report prepared pursuant to Section 25302.
(d) (1) The commission, the Department of Community Services and Development, and the State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the
Government Operations Agency and the Public Utilities Commission, shall jointly develop standardized data reporting requirements for state-administered energy programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities, including programs to promote energy efficiency, including weatherization, programs to promote utilization of renewable energy resources, programs to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and rate assistance programs that are targeted toward low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities.
programs. The data shall be reported to the Government Operations Agency and the commission. The data shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A) The state entity administering the program.
(B) The identity of the program or project.
(C) The identity of any community-based organization or other entity involved in outreach or implementation of the program or project.
(D) A description of the program or project.
(E) The operative period of a program.
(F) The length of time for completion of a project.
(G) The number of projects funded by a program.
(H) The location of each project funded.
(I) Program expenditures during the reporting period and cumulative since the program’s start.
(J) Costs associated with each project, with a breakdown for activity or benefit costs and administrative or transaction costs.
(K) The form of financing, for example, grants, rebates, or loans.
(L) For energy efficiency projects, the anticipated energy savings
and, if information is available, the actual energy savings.
(M) For programs promoting renewable energy resources, the anticipated generation and, if information is available, the actual generation and the portion of generation used onsite or exported through the electrical grid.
(N) The number of persons or customers that qualify for a program, an explanation as to how that number was determined, and the number of persons or customers receiving benefits pursuant to the program.
(2) The commission
Government Operations Agency shall make aggregate data reported to the commission pursuant to this subdivision available on its Internet Web site and the commission shall include a summary of the information in the integrated energy policy report prepared pursuant to Section 25302.
(e) From the information reported by energy utilities and third-party administrators pursuant to subdivision (b) and the data reported pursuant to subdivision (d), the commission shall develop a database broken down by ZIP Code or other available organizational means that will enable the commission to respond accurately to an individual legislator who
seeks information as to the results of programs programs, as regards low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities within the district the legislator represents, to promote energy efficiency, promote utilization of renewable energy resources, provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure, or provide rate assistance to low-income consumers and disadvantaged communities within the district that the individual legislator represents. assistance.
