Bill Text: CA AB2296 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Energy: solar energy systems.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-06-03 - Referred to Com. on E., U., & C. [AB2296 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB2296-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2296	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 27, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Saldana

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2010

   An act to amend Section 25782 of the Public Resources Code,
relating to energy.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2296, as amended, Saldana. Energy: solar energy systems.
   Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission, in consultation with specified entities, to
establish eligibility criteria for solar energy systems receiving
ratepayer funded incentives including, among other things, that the
solar energy system be located on the same premises of the end-use
consumer where the consumer's own electricity demand is located.
   This bill would expand the eligibility to include a solar energy
system that is located on a near-site location to the end-use
consumer.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 25782 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
   25782.  (a) The commission shall, by January 1, 2008, in
consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, local publicly
owned electric utilities, and interested members of the public,
establish eligibility criteria for solar energy systems receiving
ratepayer funded incentives that include all of the following:
   (1) Design, installation, and electrical output standards or
incentives.
   (2) The solar energy system is intended primarily to offset part
or all of the consumer's own electricity demand.
   (3) All components in the solar energy system are new and unused,
and have not previously been placed in service in any other location
or for any other application.
   (4) The solar energy system has a warranty of not less than 10
years to protect against defects and undue degradation of electrical
generation output.
   (5) The solar energy system is located on the same premises of, or
is located on a near-site location to, the end-use consumer where
the consumer's own electricity demand is located.  As used in
this paragraph, "near-site" means located on or adjacent to the
customer's owned, leased, or rented premises. 
   (6) The solar energy system is connected to the electrical
corporation's electrical distribution system within the state.
   (7) The solar energy system has meters or other devices in place
to monitor and measure the system's performance and the quantity of
electricity generated by the system.
   (8) The solar energy system is installed in conformance with the
manufacturer's specifications and in compliance with all applicable
electrical and building code standards.
   (b) The commission shall establish conditions on ratepayer funded
incentives that require all of the following:
   (1) Appropriate siting and high quality installation of the solar
energy system by developing installation guidelines that maximize the
performance of the system and prevent qualified systems from being
inefficiently or inappropriately installed. The conditions
established by the commission shall not impact housing designs or
densities presently authorized by a city, county, or city and county.
The goal of this paragraph is to achieve efficient installation of
solar energy systems to promote the greatest energy production per
ratepayer dollar.
   (2) Optimal solar energy system performance during periods of peak
electricity demand.
   (3) Appropriate energy efficiency improvements in the new or
existing home or commercial structure where the solar energy system
is installed.
   (c) The commission shall set rating standards for equipment,
components, and systems to assure reasonable performance and shall
develop standards that provide for compliance with the minimum
ratings.
   (d) Upon establishment of eligibility criteria pursuant to
subdivision (a), ratepayer funded incentives shall not be made for a
solar energy system that does not meet the eligibility criteria.