Bill Text: CA AB2724 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Renewable energy resources.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-09-29 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 474, Statutes of 2010. [AB2724 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB2724-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2724	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Blumenfield

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

   An act to amend Section 2863 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to solar energy.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2724, as introduced, Blumenfield. Solar water heating.
   The Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007 requires the
Public Utilities Commission to evaluate the data available from a
specified pilot program, and, if it makes a specified determination,
to design and implement a program of incentives for the installation
of 200,000 solar water heating systems in homes and businesses
throughout the state by 2017. The act requires the commission to fund
the program through the use of a surcharge applied to gas customers
based upon the amount of natural gas consumed.
   This bill would require the commission, in order to encourage the
installation of solar water heating systems in buildings owned and
occupied by public agencies, to consider additional incentives for
the installation of solar water heating systems by public entities,
including, but not limited to, exemptions or partial exemptions from
the surcharge. The bill would require the commission to give special
consideration to large users of hot water such as jails, prisons, and
public hospitals.
   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 2863 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   2863.  (a)  (1)    The commission shall evaluate
the data available from the Solar Water Heating Pilot Project
conducted by the California Center for Sustainable Energy. If, after
a public hearing, the commission determines that a solar water
heating program is cost effective for ratepayers and in the public
interest, the commission shall  do all of the following:

    (1)     Design
  design  and implement a program applicable to the
service territories of a gas corporation, to achieve the goal of the
Legislature to promote the installation of 200,000 solar water
heating systems in homes and businesses throughout the state by 2017.

   (2) The program shall be administered by gas corporations or
third-party administrators, as determined by the commission, and
subject to the supervision of the commission.
   (3) The commission shall coordinate the program with the Energy
Commission's New Solar Homes Partnership to achieve the goal of
building zero-energy homes. 
   (4) To encourage the installation of solar water heating systems
in buildings owned and occupied by public agencies, the commission
shall consider additional incentives for the installation of solar
water heating systems by public entities, including, but not limited
to, exemptions or partial exemptions from the surcharge imposed
pursuant to subdivision (b). The commission shall give special
consideration to large users of hot water such as jails, prisons, and
public hospitals. 
   (b) (1) The commission shall fund the program through the use of a
surcharge applied to gas customers based upon the amount of natural
gas consumed. The surcharge shall be in addition to any other charges
for natural gas sold or transported for consumption in this state.
   (2) The commission shall impose the surcharge at a level that is
necessary to meet the goal of installing 200,000 solar water heating
systems, or the equivalent output of 200,000 solar water heating
systems, on homes and businesses in California by 2017. Funding for
the program established by this article shall not, for the collective
service territories of all gas corporations, exceed two hundred
fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) over the course of the 10-year
program.
   (3) The commission shall annually establish a surcharge rate for
each class of gas customers. Any gas customer participating in the
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate
Assistance (FERA) programs shall be exempt from paying any surcharge
imposed to fund the program designed and implemented pursuant to this
article.
   (4) Any surcharge imposed to fund the program designed and
implemented pursuant to this article shall not be imposed upon the
portion of any gas customer's procurement of natural gas that is used
or employed for a purpose that Section 896 excludes from being
categorized as the consumption of natural gas.
   (5) The gas corporation or other person or entity providing
revenue cycle services, as defined in Section 328.1, shall be
responsible for collecting the surcharge.
   (c) Funds shall be allocated for the benefit of gas customers to
promote utilization of solar water heating systems.
   (d) In designing and implementing the program required by this
article, no moneys shall be diverted from any existing programs for
low-income ratepayers or cost-effective energy efficiency programs.