California Solar Initiative - - CA Public Resources

Section § 25780

This section outlines California's goals for solar energy. It aims to install solar systems generating 3,000 megawatts, making solar a common choice for homes and businesses within 10 years. Additionally, the state wants solar systems on half of new homes in 13 years.

The initiative should also be cost-effective for ratepayers, leading to lower electricity bills by reducing the need to buy electricity during peak times, while also enhancing system reliability and cutting pollution.

The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:

(a) It is the goal of the state to install solar energy systems with a generation capacity equivalent of 3,000 megawatts, to establish a self-sufficient solar industry in which solar energy systems are a viable mainstream option for both homes and businesses in 10 years, and to place solar energy systems on 50 percent of new homes in 13 years.

(b) A solar initiative should be a cost-effective investment by ratepayers in peak electricity generation capacity where ratepayers recoup the cost of their investment through lower rates as a result of avoiding purchases of electricity at peak rates, with additional system reliability and pollution reduction benefits.

solar energy systems 3 000 megawatts self-sufficient solar industry mainstream option homes and businesses solar initiative cost-effective investment ratepayers peak electricity generation lower rates system reliability pollution reduction new homes solar industry goals renewable energy targets

(Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 132, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2007.)

Section § 25781

This section defines key terms related to California's solar energy initiatives. The 'California Solar Initiative' is a program providing financial incentives for solar energy systems. 'kW', 'kWh', and 'MW' are units that measure electricity output. 'kW' means kilowatts, 'kWh' means kilowatt-hours, and 'MW' means megawatts. A 'solar energy system' is specifically a device that captures and distributes solar energy for electricity, able to produce between one kilowatt and five megawatts of power and meeting certain criteria.

As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “California Solar Initiative” means the program providing ratepayer funded incentives for eligible solar energy systems adopted by the Public Utilities Commission in Decision 06-01-024.

(b) “kW” means kilowatts or 1,000 watts, as measured from the alternating current side of the solar energy system inverter consistent with Section 223 of Title 15 of the United States Code.

(c) “kWh” means kilowatthours, as measured by the number of kilowatts generated in an hour.

(d) “MW” means megawatts or 1,000,000 watts.

(e) “Solar energy system” means a solar energy device that has the primary purpose of providing for the collection and distribution of solar energy for the generation of electricity, that produces at least one kW, and not more than five MW, alternating current rated peak electricity, and that meets or exceeds the eligibility criteria established pursuant to Section 25782.

California Solar Initiative solar energy systems ratepayer incentives Public Utilities Commission Decision 06-01-024 kilowatts kilowatt-hours megawatts solar energy device electricity generation alternating current inverter solar power eligibility energy measurement Section 25782 criteria

(Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 132, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2007.)

Section § 25782

The commission is responsible for setting criteria for solar energy systems that receive incentives paid by ratepayers. These criteria must be established by January 1, 2008, and are set in consultation with various stakeholders, including utilities and the public. The systems must be new, with a 10-year warranty, and primarily offset the consumer's electricity use. They have to be installed according to specific standards and company guidelines, and there must be monitoring in place.

Incentives will also require systems to be placed appropriately and installed optimally to ensure high performance, especially during peak electricity times. Another requirement is for energy efficiency improvements in the buildings where solar systems are installed. Standards must be developed to ensure systems conform to performance ratings, and incentives won't be given to systems that don't meet these set criteria.

(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 the end-use consumer where the consumer’s own electricity demand is located.

(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), no ratepayer funded incentives shall be made for a solar energy system that does not meet the eligibility criteria.

solar energy systems ratepayer funded incentives eligibility criteria installation standards electrical output standards warranty requirements new components electricity demand offset monitoring performance optimal installation peak electricity demand energy efficiency improvements rating standards compliance siting guidelines

(Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 132, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2007.)

Section § 25783

This law requires the commission to create and distribute educational resources for builders on incorporating solar energy systems during construction and optimizing these with energy efficiency measures. They must also develop and share estimated annual electricity generation figures and savings associated with solar systems, considering variables like climate zone and system type. Additionally, the commission is tasked with supporting builders and contractors through workshops, training, and other resources. Finally, they must conduct yearly random audits of solar systems to check how well they perform.

The commission shall do all the following:

(a) Publish educational materials designed to demonstrate how builders may incorporate solar energy systems during construction as well as energy efficiency measures that best complement solar energy systems.

(b) Develop and publish the estimated annual electrical generation and savings for solar energy systems. The estimates shall vary by climate zone, type of system, size, life cycle costs, electricity prices, and other factors the commission determines to be relevant to a consumer when making a purchasing decision.

(c) Provide assistance to builders and contractors. The assistance may include technical workshops, training, educational materials, and related research.

(d) The commission shall annually conduct random audits of solar energy systems to evaluate their operational performance.

solar energy systems construction energy efficiency educational materials annual electrical generation savings estimates climate zone variations system type builder assistance contractor training technical workshops performance audits operational performance evaluation solar system audits life cycle costs

(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 627, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.)

Section § 25784

This law requires the commission to create guidelines for solar energy systems that receive financial incentives from ratepayers. These guidelines must be developed in a meeting that is publicly announced and open for comment from interested parties. The initial guidelines need to be publicly announced at least 30 days before the meeting, and any major changes afterwards must have at least 10 days' public notice. These guidelines are not subject to certain government procedural rules.

The commission shall adopt guidelines for solar energy systems receiving ratepayer funded incentives at a publicly noticed meeting offering all interested parties an opportunity to comment. Not less than 30 days’ public notice shall be given of the meeting required by this section, before the commission initially adopts guidelines. Substantive changes to the guidelines shall not be adopted without at least 10 days’ written notice to the public. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any guidelines adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

solar energy systems ratepayer funded incentives public notice guideline adoption comment opportunity substantive changes publicly noticed meeting 30 days notice 10 days notice exemption from procedural rules interested parties commission guidelines

(Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 132, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2007.)