Low-income Weatherization Programs - Publicly Owned Utilities - CA Public Utilities

Section § 9500

This law requires publicly owned electric and gas utilities in California to offer home weatherization services to low-income customers if there's a significant need within their service areas. These services help make homes more energy-efficient, lowering energy costs for low-income households. The utilities need to assess whether the weatherization services are cost-effective and aligned with public policy goals. They are not required to offer duplicate services already provided by other utilities.

Weatherization can include installing attic insulation, caulking, weatherstripping, low flow showerheads, water heater blankets, and door and building repairs to reduce air leakage. Utilities should offer as many feasible and cost-effective measures as possible.

The utilities might also provide other building conservation efforts, energy-efficient appliances, or energy education programs if these are determined to meet the goals and are cost-effective.

(a) Each publicly owned electric and gas utility that provides the energy for space heating for low-income customers shall also provide home weatherization services for those customers if a significant need for those services exists in the utility’s service territory, as determined by the utility, taking into consideration both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the public policy of reducing financial hardships facing low-income households. Publicly owned utilities shall not have to duplicate low-income home weatherization services provided by gas and electrical corporations serving the same service territory.

(b)

(1) For purposes of this section, “weatherization” includes, where feasible, any of the following measures for any dwelling unit:

(A) Attic insulation.

(B) Caulking.

(D) Low flow showerhead.

(E) Waterheater blanket.

(F) Door and building envelope repairs which reduce air infiltration.

(2) Each publicly owned electric and gas utility shall provide as many of these measures as it determines to be feasible and cost-effective for each eligible low-income dwelling unit.

(c) “Weatherization” may also include other building conservation measures, energy-efficient appliances, and energy education programs determined by the utility to be feasible, taking into consideration both the cost-effectiveness of the measures and the public policy of reducing the financial hardships facing low-income households.

low-income weatherization energy efficiency publicly owned utilities space heating cost-effectiveness financial hardship reduction attic insulation caulking weatherstripping low flow showerhead water heater blanket air infiltration reduction energy conservation energy education building envelope repairs

(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 809, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)

Section § 9501

This law requires public electric and gas utilities to create and run programs that help low-income households with home weatherization. They must work together with related corporations and the Department of Economic Opportunity to avoid waste and use resources effectively. Additionally, the costs for these utilities to coordinate efforts can be covered by customers, as long as the Public Utilities Commission agrees the expenses are reasonable.

Each publicly owned electric and gas utility shall develop and implement its low-income home weatherization program, in consultation with gas and electrical corporations and the Department of Economic Opportunity, to avoid duplication and to ensure the most efficient use of public and private resources. For ratemaking purposes, gas and electrical corporation expenditures for consultation and coordination shall be recoverable from ratepayers, subject to the Public Utilities Commission’s authority to determine the reasonableness of the amount of the expenditures.

public utilities low-income home weatherization utility coordination resource efficiency ratepayer recovery Public Utilities Commission energy conservation gas and electrical corporations expenditure reasonableness consultation costs Department of Economic Opportunity duplicate efforts prevention public resource use private resource use ratemaking purposes

(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 809, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)

Section § 9503

Once specific energy regulations are established, local public electric utilities in California must create energy efficiency programs. These programs should aim to save energy and reduce greenhouse gases in both homes and businesses. Utilities must also consider how these programs will impact electricity rates, service reliability, and their financial situations.

Upon the completion and promulgation of regulations pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25943 of the Public Resources Code, each governing body of a local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in Section 224.3, shall be responsible for implementing an energy efficiency program that recognizes the intent of the Legislature to encourage energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions in existing residential and nonresidential buildings, while taking into consideration the effect of the program on rates, reliability, and financial resources.

energy efficiency program local publicly owned electric utility greenhouse gas emission reductions residential buildings nonresidential buildings energy savings utility program impact electricity rates service reliability financial resources Public Resources Code regulations program implementation California utilities utility governing bodies

(Added by renumbering Section 385.2 by Stats. 2012, Ch. 606, Sec. 4. (AB 2227) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Section § 9505

This law requires each local publicly owned electric utility in California to report annually to their customers and the Energy Commission about their efforts in energy efficiency and demand reduction. They must detail their investments, describe programs and their effectiveness, report on funding sources, and compare actual savings with targets.

Every four years, these utilities need to set goals for the next decade for cost-effective energy savings, independent of past investments. They must report these targets and the rationale to the Energy Commission within 60 days of setting them. Additionally, utilities must share results from independent evaluations of their programs' effectiveness with customers and the Energy Commission.

(a) By March 15, 2013, and by March 15 of each year thereafter, each local publicly owned electric utility shall report to the Energy Commission and to its customers all of the following:

(1) Its investments in energy efficiency and demand reduction programs.

(2) A description of each energy efficiency and demand reduction program, program expenditures, the cost-effectiveness of each program, and expected and actual energy efficiency savings and demand reduction results that reflect the intent of the Legislature to encourage energy savings and reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from providing service to existing residential and nonresidential buildings, while taking into consideration the effect of the program on rates, reliability, and financial resources.

(3) The sources for funding of its energy efficiency and demand reduction programs.

(4) The methodologies and input assumptions used to determine the cost-effectiveness of its energy efficiency and demand reduction programs.

(5) A comparison of the local publicly owned electric utility’s annual targets established pursuant to subdivision (b) and the local publicly owned electric utility’s reported electricity efficiency savings and demand reductions.

(b) By March 15, 2013, and by March 15 of every fourth year thereafter, each local publicly owned electric utility shall identify all potentially achievable cost-effective electricity efficiency savings and shall establish annual targets for energy efficiency savings and demand reduction for the next 10-year period, consistent with the annual targets established by the Energy Commission pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 25310 of the Public Resources Code. A local publicly owned electric utility’s determination of potentially achievable cost-effective electricity efficiency savings shall be made without regard to previous minimum investments undertaken pursuant to Section 385. A local publicly owned electric utility shall treat investments made to achieve energy efficiency savings and demand reduction targets as procurement investments.

(c) Within 60 days of establishing annual targets pursuant to subdivision (b), each local publicly owned electric utility shall report those targets to the Energy Commission, and the basis for establishing those targets.

(d) Each local publicly owned electric utility shall make available to its customers and to the Energy Commission the results of any independent evaluation that measures and verifies the energy efficiency savings and the reduction in energy demand achieved by its energy efficiency and demand reduction programs.

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(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 547, Sec. 33. (SB 350) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Section § 9506

This section mandates that local publicly owned electric utilities in California provide reports to the Energy Commission about their energy storage system procurement targets and policies. Utilities must submit reports by specific deadlines in 2017 and 2021, demonstrating compliance with established targets. Any changes to these targets need to be reported as well. The Energy Commission is responsible for making these reports available to the public online, with sensitive information removed. Additionally, a summary of these reports will be included in the broader energy policy report.

(a) A local publicly owned electric utility shall report to the Energy Commission regarding the energy storage system procurement targets and policies adopted by the governing board pursuant to paragraph (2) of, and report any modifications made to those targets as a result of a reevaluation undertaken pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 2836.

(b) By January 1, 2017, a local publicly owned electric utility shall submit a report to the Energy Commission demonstrating that it has complied with the energy storage system procurement targets and policies adopted by the governing board pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2836.

(c) By January 1, 2021, a local publicly owned electric utility shall submit a report to the Energy Commission demonstrating that it has complied with the energy storage system procurement targets and policies adopted by the governing board pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2836.

(d) The Energy Commission shall ensure that a copy of each report or plan required by subdivisions (b) and (c), with any confidential information redacted, is available on the Energy Commission’s Internet Web site, or on an Internet Web site maintained by the local publicly owned electric utility that can be accessed from the Energy Commission’s Internet Web site.

(e) A summary of the reports required by this section shall be included as part of each integrated energy policy report required pursuant to Section 25302 of the Public Resources Code.

local publicly owned electric utility energy storage system procurement targets Energy Commission reporting compliance reports policy adoption report deadlines confidential information redaction energy policy integration public report accessibility modification of targets governing board policies

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 76, Sec. 181. (AB 383) Effective January 1, 2014.)

Section § 9507

This law requires local publicly owned electric utilities in California to annually inform their customers about several key aspects. They must disclose their electricity sources from the previous year, their progress in meeting state renewable energy goals, and their spending on renewable energy projects, including details on programs and funding. Additionally, they need to provide updates on their solar initiative programs, such as the capacity of solar systems they've funded, the number of these systems installed, applications received, incentives given, and contributions towards the goals of the California Solar Initiative.

(a) For purposes of this section, “eligible renewable energy resource” and “renewables portfolio standard” have the same meanings as for the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program (Article 16 (commencing with Section 399.11) of Chapter 2.3 of Part 1 of Division 1).

(b) Every local publicly owned electric utility shall annually disclose, to end-use customers, all of the following:

(1) Its electricity sources for the previous calendar year, consistent with information provided to the Energy Commission pursuant to Section 398.4.

(2) The utility’s progress toward attaining the renewables portfolio standard established pursuant to Section 399.30.

(3) Expenditures for development of eligible renewable energy resources, including a description of programs, sources of funding, expected results, and actual results.

(c) A local publicly owned electric utility shall, on an annual basis, make available to its customers information relating to the utility’s solar initiative program established pursuant to Section 2854, including the rated generating capacity of installed solar energy systems receiving monetary incentives through the utility’s program, the total number of solar energy systems installed, the total number of applications for the utility’s program, the amount of monetary incentives awarded, and the contribution toward the program goals of the California Solar Initiative (Article 1 (commencing with Section 2851) of Chapter 9 of Part 2 of Division 1).

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(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 606, Sec. 14. (AB 2227) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Section § 9508

This law requires local publicly owned electric utilities in California to annually report to the Energy Commission about their contracts with renewable energy providers. These utilities must provide details about the type of renewable energy, details of the facilities, contract duration, and how such contracts will impact their renewable energy sales.

Additionally, the utilities must report their progress towards the state's renewable energy goals and share details of any solar initiatives, including installed solar capacities, incentive amounts, and application numbers. The law aims to streamline the reporting process to minimize costs and efforts.

(a) In developing the rules and procedures specified in this section and in Section 9507, the Energy Commission shall seek to minimize the reporting burden and cost of reporting that it imposes on local publicly owned electric utilities.

(b) A local publicly owned electric utility shall annually submit to the Energy Commission documentation regarding eligible renewable energy resources procurement contracts that it executed during the prior year, as follows:

(1) A description of the eligible renewable energy resource, including the duration of the contract or electricity purchase agreement.

(2) A description and identification of the electrical generating facility providing the eligible renewable energy resource under the contract.

(3) An estimate of the percentage increase in the utility’s total retail sales of electricity from eligible renewable energy resources that will result from the contract.

(c) A local publicly owned electric utility shall annually submit to the Energy Commission documentation regarding the utility’s progress toward attaining the renewables portfolio standard established pursuant to Section 399.30.

(d) A local publicly owned electric utility shall, on an annual basis, make available to the Legislature and the Energy Commission information relating to the utility’s solar initiative program established pursuant to Section 2854, including the rated generating capacity of installed solar energy systems receiving monetary incentives through the utility’s program, the total number of solar energy systems installed, the total number of applications for the utility’s program, the amount of monetary incentives awarded, and the contribution toward the program goals of the California Solar Initiative (Article 1 (commencing with Section 2851) of Chapter 9 of Part 2 of Division 1).

(e) For the purposes of this section, “eligible renewable energy resource,” “renewables portfolio standard,” and “procure” have the same meanings as these terms have in the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program (Article 16 (commencing with Section 399.11) of Chapter 2.3 of Part 1 of Division 1).

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(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 677, Sec. 8. (SB 1393) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Section § 9508.5

This law requires local publicly owned electric utilities to provide any information requested by the Energy Commission for assessing their progress in fulfilling certain obligations mentioned in another section (Section 9620).

A local publicly owned electric utility serving end-use customers shall, upon request, provide the Energy Commission with any information the Energy Commission determines is necessary to evaluate the progress made by the local publicly owned electric utility in meeting the requirements of Section 9620.

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(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 606, Sec. 16. (AB 2227) Effective January 1, 2013.)