Bill Text: CA SB37 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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

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Bill Title: Energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades: on-bill repayment program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-05-01 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a). [SB37 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SB37-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 37	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator De León

                        DECEMBER 5, 2012

   An act relating to energy.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 37, as introduced, De León. Energy efficiency and renewable
energy upgrades: on-bill repayment program.
   Under existing law the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations
and gas corporations, as defined. Existing law authorizes the
commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and
requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable.
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact an
on-bill repayment program that will provide Californians greater
access to energy efficiency and clean technology upgrades.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Despite existing programs, large numbers of Californians
currently do not have access to energy efficiency and clean
technology upgrades.
   (b) Existing clean energy programs and incentives are important
but limited in that they are underfunded and reach only a small
number of Californians due to restrictions in income level, credit
score, project size, or commercial-only eligibility.
   (c) Energy efficiency and clean technology upgrades currently have
especially low penetration rate due to a split incentive between
renter and landlord over the costs and benefits of such projects.
   (d) California's current economic condition necessitates that the
Legislature develop pioneering ways to create sustainable, green
collar jobs.
   (e) On-bill repayment is an innovative and pioneering concept that
would provide affordable financing of energy efficiency and on-site
clean generation technology upgrades by tying repayment of the loan
obligation to the utility meter.
   (f) By tying repayment to the utility bill, ratepayers would repay
the loan on the same bill where savings are realized from the
investment, creating a potential net bill neutrality or even a
decrease in the ratepayer's bill as a result of the investment.
   (g) On-bill repayment would be a unique clean energy incentive
program because it would not rely on ratepayer or taxpayer funding
and it would expand access to energy efficiency and clean technology
upgrades.
   (h) On-bill repayment would incentivize private investors to
invest in California's clean energy improvements, would stimulate the
state's economy by creating jobs for contractors and other persons
who complete new energy improvements, and would reinforce the
leadership role of the state in the new energy economy, thereby
attracting clean energy manufacturing facilities and related jobs to
the state.
   (i) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact an on-bill
repayment program that will provide Californians greater access to
energy efficiency and clean technology upgrades.