AB 1995: Local publicly owned electric and gas utilities: weatherization.
- Session Year: 2017-2018
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2018-02-01
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations, while local publicly owned electric and gas utilities are under the direction of their governing boards. Existing law requires 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. Existing law defines weatherization for these purposes as including specified measures, requires the commission to direct any electrical or gas corporation to provide as many of the specified measures as are feasible for each eligible low-income dwelling unit, and provides that weatherization may also include other building conservation measures, energy management technology, as defined, energy-efficient appliances, and energy education programs determined by the commission to be feasible, in consideration of both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the public policy of reducing financial hardships facing low-income households.
This bill would require the commission to direct an electrical or gas corporation to provide as many of the specified measures as are feasible and cost effective for each eligible low-income dwelling unit, and provides that weatherization may also include water conservation measures that result in energy savings determined by the utility to be feasible, in consideration of both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the public policy of reducing financial hardships facing low-income households.
Existing law requires every local publicly owned electric and gas utility that provides the energy for space heating for low-income customers to also provide home weatherization services for those customers if a significant need for those services exists in the utilitys service territory, in consideration of both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the public policy of reducing financial hardships facing low-income households. Existing law defines weatherization for these purposes as including specified measures, and provides that weatherization may also include other building conservation measures, energy-efficient appliances, and energy education programs determined by the utility to be feasible, in consideration of both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the public policy of reducing financial hardships facing low-income households.
This bill would provide that weatherization may also include energy management technology and water conservation measures that result in energy savings determined by the utility to be feasible, in consideration of both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the public policy of reducing financial hardships facing low-income households.
(a)The commission shall require an electrical corporation or gas corporation to perform home weatherization services for low-income customers, as determined by the commission under Section 739, if the commission determines that a significant need for those services exists in the corporations service territory, taking into consideration both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the policy of reducing the hardships facing low-income households.
(b)(1)For purposes of this section, weatherization may include, where feasible, any of the following measures for any dwelling unit:
(A)Attic insulation.
(B)Caulking.
(C)Weatherstripping.
(D)Low flow showerhead.
(E)Waterheater blanket.
(F)Door and building envelope repairs that reduce air infiltration.
(2)The commission shall direct any an electrical corporation or gas corporation to provide as many of these measures as are feasible and cost-effective for each eligible low-income dwelling unit.
(c)Weatherization may also include other building conservation measures, energy management technology, energy-efficient appliances, water conservation measures that result in energy savings, and energy education programs determined by the commission to be feasible, taking into consideration for all measures both the cost-effectiveness of the measures as a whole and the policy of reducing energy-related hardships facing low-income households.
(d)Weatherization programs shall use the needs assessment pursuant to Section 382.1 to maximize efficiency of delivery.
(e)For purposes of this section, energy management technology may include a product, service, or software that allows a customer to better understand and manage electricity or gas use in the customers home.
SEC. 2.Section 9500 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:9500.(a)Each local 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 utilitys 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.
(C)Weatherstripping.
(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 management technology, energy-efficient appliances, water conservation measures that result in energy savings, 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.
(d)For purposes of this section, energy management technology may include a product, service, or software that allows a customer to better understand and manage electricity or gas use in the customers home.
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Date
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Status
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| Mar 20, 2018 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Feb 12, 2018 | Referred to Com. on U. & E. |
| Feb 2, 2018 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 4. |
| Feb 1, 2018 | Read first time. To print. |
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