AB 1664: Energy: self-generation incentive program: block grant.

Session Year: 2023-2024
House: Assembly

Current Status:

Failed

(2024-02-01: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.)

Introduced

First Committee Review

First Chamber

Second Committee Review

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires each electrical corporation to submit to the commission a distribution resources plan proposal to identify optimal locations for the deployment of distributed resources, as defined. Existing law requires that each proposal, among other things, propose or identify mechanisms for the deployment of cost-effective distributed resources that satisfy distribution planning objectives and propose cost-effective methods of effectively coordinating existing commission-approved programs, incentives, and tariffs, as specified.This bill would change the phrase distributed resources to distributed energy resources in the described-above provisions. The bill would require that each distribution resources plan proposal, among other things, propose or identify mechanisms for the deployment of cost-effective distributed energy resources that also satisfy resiliency objectives and propose cost-effective methods of effectively coordinating existing state-funded and ratepayer-funded, rather than commission-approved, programs, incentives, and tariffs, as specified.

Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to require the administration, until January 1, 2026, of a self-generation incentive program to increase the deployment of distributed generation resources and energy storage systems. Existing law requires the commission, in administering the program, to use funds that are appropriated by the Legislature, as provided, for the purposes of providing incentives to eligible residential customers who install behind-the-meter energy storage systems or solar photovoltaic systems paired with energy storage systems.

This bill would require, as part of administering the funds used to provide incentives to eligible residential customers, the commission to establish a block grant structure for eligible entities, as defined, to apply for grants on behalf of residential households to increase the resiliency of residential households, as specified. The bill would require the commission, in determining the block grant funding criteria, to consider and prioritize one or more specified requirements.

Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.

Because the above provision would be a part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing this bills requirements would be a crime, the 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.

Discussed in Hearing