AB 793: Energy efficiency.

(1)Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations, as defined. Existing law requires the commission to require an electrical or gas corporation to perform home weatherization services for low-income customers if the commission determines that a significant need for those services exists in the corporations service territory. For these purposes, existing law authorizes weatherization, where feasible, to include certain measures for a dwelling unit. Existing law also authorizes weatherization, for these purposes, to include other measures determined by the commission to be feasible, taking into consideration the cost-effectiveness of the measures as a whole and the policy of reducing energy-related hardships facing low-income households.

This bill would authorize weatherization, for the above-specified purposes, to include energy management technology determined by the commission to be feasible, taking into consideration the above-described factors.

(2)Existing law requires the commission, by July 1, 2010, and in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, the Independent System Operator, and other key stakeholders, to determine the requirements for a smart grid deployment plan consistent with specified policies and federal law. Existing law requires each electrical corporation, by July 1, 2011, to develop and submit a smart grid deployment plan to the commission for approval.

This bill would require the commission to require an electrical or gas corporation to develop a program to provide incentives to a residential or small or medium business customer to acquire energy management technology for use in the customers home or place of business. The bill would require the commission to require an electrical or gas corporation to develop a plan to educate residential customers and small and medium business customers about the incentive program. The bill would require the commission to require the electrical or gas corporation to annually report to the commission on actual customer savings resulting from the incentive program.

The bill would require the commission to evaluate all electrical or gas corporation energy savings claims achieved pursuant to the incentive program described above in a manner consistent with commission-adopted evaluation protocols.

(3)Because a violation of any part of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the Public Utilities Commission is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.