BILL NUMBER: SB 1 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 132 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 21, 2006 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR AUGUST 21, 2006 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 14, 2006 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY JUNE 29, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 29, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 8, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 8, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 4, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 2, 2005 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 31, 2005 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 18, 2005 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 12, 2005 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 5, 2005 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 23, 2005 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 31, 2005 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 16, 2005 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 25, 2005 AMENDED IN SENATE FEBRUARY 28, 2005 INTRODUCED BY Senator Murray (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Levine) (Coauthors: Senators Alquist, Chesbro, Ducheny, and Kehoe) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bermudez, Blakeslee, Chan, Cohn, Garcia, Koretz, Laird, Leno, Lieber, Nation, Pavley, Saldana, Wolk, and Yee) DECEMBER 6, 2004 An act to add Sections 25405.5 and 25405.6 to, and to add Chapter 8.8 (commencing with Section 25780) to Division 15 of, the Public Resources Code, and to amend Section 2827 of, and to add Sections 387.5 and 2851 to, the Public Utilities Code, relating to solar electricity. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1, Murray Electricity: solar energy: net metering. (1) Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to expand and accelerate development of alternative sources of energy, including solar resources. Existing law requires the Energy Commission to develop and adopt regulations governing solar devices, as defined, designed to encourage the development and use of solar energy and to provide maximum information to the public concerning solar devices. This bill would require beginning January 1, 2011, a seller of production homes, as defined, to offer the option of a solar energy system, as defined, to all customers negotiating to purchase a new production home constructed on land meeting certain criteria and to disclose certain information. The bill would require the Energy Commission to develop an offset program that allows a developer or seller of production homes to forgo the offer requirement on a project by installing solar energy systems generating specified amounts of electricity on other projects. The bill would require, not later than July 1, 2007, the Energy Commission to initiate a public proceeding to study and make findings whether, and under what conditions, solar energy systems should be required on new residential and nonresidential buildings and to periodically update the study thereafter. (2) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law required the PUC, on or before March 7, 2001, and in consultation with the Independent System Operator, to take certain actions, including, in consultation with the Energy Commission, adopting energy conservation demand-side management and other initiatives in order to reduce demand for electricity and reduce load during peak demand periods, including differential incentives for renewable or super clean distributed generation resources. Pursuant to this requirement, the PUC has developed a self-generation incentive program to encourage customers of electrical corporations to install distributed generation that operates on renewable fuel or contributes to system reliability. Existing law requires the PUC, in consultation with the Energy Commission, to administer, until January 1, 2008, a self-generation incentive program for distributed generation resources in the same form that existed on January 1, 2004, subject to certain air emissions and efficiency standards. In a PUC decision, the PUC adopted the California Solar Initiative, which modified the self-generation incentive program for distributed generation resources and provides incentives to customer-side photovoltaics and solar thermal electric projects under one megawatt. This bill would require the PUC, in implementing the California Solar Initiative, to authorize the award of monetary incentives for up to the first megawatt of alternating current generated by an eligible solar energy system, that meets the eligibility criteria established by the Energy Commission. The bill would authorize the commission, prior to the establishment of eligibility criteria by the Energy Commission, to determine the eligibility of a solar energy system, as defined, to receive monetary incentives. The bill would require that awards of monetary incentives decline at a rate of an average of at least 7% for each year following implementation, and be zero by December 31, 2016. The bill would require the PUC, by January 1, 2008, to adopt a performance-based incentive program, as specified. The bill would require that the PUC, by January 1, 2008, and in consultation with the Energy Commission, require reasonable and cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in existing buildings as a condition of providing incentives for eligible solar energy systems. The bill would require the commission to require time-variant pricing for all ratepayers with a solar energy system. The bill would prohibit costs of the program from being recovered from certain customers and would require the commission to ensure that the total cost over the duration of the program does not exceed $3,350,800,000, consisting of 3 specified program components. The bill would authorize the PUC to award monetary incentives for solar thermal and solar water heating devices, in a total amount up to $100,800,000. The bill would prohibit the PUC from allocating more than $50,000,000 for certain research, development, and demonstration. The bill would require that by June 30, 2009, and by June 30 of every year thereafter, the PUC submit to the Legislature an assessment of the success of the California Solar Initiative program, that includes specified information. This bill would require the Energy Commission, by January 1, 2008, and in consultation with the PUC, local publicly owned electric utilities, and interested members of the public, to establish and thereafter revise eligibility criteria for solar energy systems and to establish conditions for ratepayer funded incentives that are applicable to the California Solar Initiative. The bill would require the Energy Commission to adopt guidelines for solar energy systems receiving ratepayer funded incentives at a publicly noticed meeting. The bill would, upon establishment of eligibility criteria by the Energy Commission, prohibit ratepayer funded incentives from being made for a solar energy system that does not meet the eligibility criteria. The bill would require the Energy Commission to make certain information available to the public, to provide assistance to builders and contractors, and to conduct random audits of solar energy systems to evaluate their operational performance. This bill would require all local publicly owned electric utilities, as defined, that sell electricity at retail, on or before January 1, 2008, to adopt, implement, and finance a solar initiative program, as prescribed, for the purpose of investing in, and encouraging the increased installation of, residential and commercial solar energy systems. The bill would require a local publicly owned electric utility to make certain program information available to its customers, to the Legislature, and to the Energy Commission on an annual basis beginning June 1, 2008. By imposing additional duties upon local publicly owned electric utilities, the bill would thereby impose a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing law requires all electric service providers, as defined, to develop a standard contract or tariff providing for net energy metering, and to make this contract available to eligible customer generators, upon request. Existing law requires all electric service providers, upon request, to make available to eligible customer generators contracts for net energy metering on a first-come-first-served basis until the time that the total rated generating capacity used by eligible customer generators exceeds 0.5% of the electric service provider's aggregate customer peak demand. This bill would require the PUC to order electric service providers to expand the availability of net energy metering so that it is offered on a first-come-first-served basis until the time that the total rated generating capacity used by all eligible customer-generators exceeds 2.5% of the electric service provider's aggregate customer peak demand. The bill would require the PUC, by January 1, 2010, in consultation with the Energy Commission, to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the costs and benefits of net energy metering, wind energy co-metering, and co-energy metering to participating customers and nonparticipating customers and with options to replace the economic costs of different forms of net metering with a mechanism that more equitably balances the interests of participating and nonparticipating customers. (4) Existing law, the Contractors' State License Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of contractors by the Contractors' State License Board. This bill would require the board to review and, if needed, revise its licensing classifications and examinations to ensure that contractors authorized to perform work on solar energy systems, as specified, have the requisite qualifications to perform the work. (5) 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 specified reasons. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted the California Solar Initiative in Decision 06-01-024. (b) Nothing in this act shall be construed to codify PUC Decision 06-01-024. SEC. 2. Section 25405.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 25405.5. (a) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) "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. (2) "Production home" means a single-family residence constructed as part of a development of at least 50 homes per project that is intended or offered for sale. (3) "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 megawatts, alternating current rated peak electricity, and that meets or exceeds the eligibility criteria established pursuant to Section 25782. (b) A seller of production homes shall offer a solar energy system option to all customers that enter into negotiations to purchase a new production home constructed on land for which an application for a tentative subdivision map has been deemed complete on or after January 1, 2011, and disclose the following: (1) The total installed cost of the solar energy system option. (2) The estimated cost savings associated with the solar energy system option, as determined by the commission pursuant to Chapter 8.8 (commencing with Section 25780) of Division 15. (c) The State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission shall develop an offset program that allows a developer or seller of production homes to forgo the offer requirement of this section on a project, by installing solar energy systems generating specified amounts of electricity on other projects, including, but not limited to, low-income housing, multifamily, commercial, industrial, and institutional developments. The amount of electricity required to be generated from solar energy systems used as an offset pursuant to this subdivision shall be equal to the amount of electricity generated by solar energy systems installed on a similarly sized project within that climate zone, assuming 20 percent of the prospective buyers would have installed solar energy systems. (d) The requirements of this section shall not operate as a substitute for the implementation of existing energy efficiency measures, and the requirements of this section shall not result in lower energy savings or lower energy efficiency levels than would otherwise be achieved by the full implementation of energy savings and energy efficiency standards established pursuant to Section 25402. SEC. 3. Section 25405.6 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 25405.6. Not later than July 1, 2007, the commission shall initiate a public proceeding to study and make findings whether, and under what conditions, solar energy systems should be required on new residential and new nonresidential buildings, including the establishment of numerical targets. As part of the study, the commission may determine that a solar energy system should not be required for any building unless the commission determines, based upon consideration of all costs associated with the system, that the system is cost effective when amortized over the economic life of the structure. When determining the cost-effectiveness of the solar energy system, the commission shall consider the availability of governmental rebates, tax deductions, net-metering, and other quantifiable factors, if the commission can determine the availability of these financial incentives if a solar energy system is made mandatory and not elective. The commission shall periodically update the study and incorporate any revision that the commission determines is necessary, including revisions that reflect changes in the financial incentives originally considered by the commission when determining cost-effectiveness of the solar energy system. For purposes of this section, "solar energy system" means a photovoltaic solar collector or other photovoltaic solar energy device that has a primary purpose of providing for the collection and distribution of solar energy for the generation of electricity. This section is intended to be for study purposes only and does not authorize the commission to develop and adopt any requirement for solar energy systems on either residential or nonresidential buildings. SEC. 4. Chapter 8.8 (commencing with Section 25780) is added to Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, to read: CHAPTER 8.8. California Solar Initiative 25780. 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. 25781. 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. 25782. (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. 25783. 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, lifecycle 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. (e) The commission, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, shall evaluate the costs and benefits of having an increased number of operational solar energy systems as a part of the electrical system with respect to their impact upon the distribution, transmission, and supply of electricity, using the best available load profiling and distribution operations data from the Public Utilities Commission, local publicly owned electric utilities, and electrical corporations, and performance audits of installed solar energy systems. 25784. 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. SEC. 5. Section 387.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read: 387.5. (a) In order to further the state goal of encouraging the installation of 3,000 megawatts of photovoltaic solar energy in California within 10 years, the governing body of a local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 9604, that sells electricity at retail, shall adopt, implement, and finance a solar initiative program, funded in accordance with subdivision (b), for the purpose of investing in, and encouraging the increased installation of, residential and commercial solar energy systems. (b) On or before January 1, 2008, a local publicly owned electric utility shall offer monetary incentives for the installation of solar energy systems of at least two dollars and eighty cents ($2.80) per installed watt, or for the electricity produced by the solar energy system, measured in kilowatthours, as determined by the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility, for photovoltaic solar energy systems. The incentive level shall decline each year thereafter at a rate of no less than an average of 7 percent per year. (c) A local publicly owned electric utility shall initiate a public proceeding to fund a solar energy program to adequately support the goal of installing 3,000 megawatts of photovoltaic solar energy in California. The proceeding shall determine what additional funding, if any, is necessary to provide the incentives pursuant to subdivision (b). The public proceeding shall be completed and the comprehensive solar energy program established by January 1, 2008. (d) The solar energy program of a local publicly owned electric utility shall be consistent with all of the following: (1) That a solar energy system receiving monetary incentives comply with the eligibility criteria, design, installation, and electrical output standards or incentives established by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission pursuant to Section 25782 of the Public Resources Code. (2) That solar energy systems receiving monetary incentives are intended primarily to offset part or all of the consumer's own electricity demand. (3) That 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) That 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) That the solar energy system be located on the same premises of the end-use consumer where the consumer's own electricity demand is located. (6) That the solar energy system be connected to the electric utility's electrical distribution system within the state. (7) That 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) That the solar energy system be installed in conformance with the manufacturer's specifications and in compliance with all applicable electrical and building code standards. (e) A local publicly owned electric utility shall, on an annual basis beginning June 1, 2008, make available to its customers, to the Legislature, and to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, information relating to the utility's solar initiative program established pursuant to this section, including, but not limited to, the number of photovoltaic solar watts installed, the total number of photovoltaic systems installed, the total number of applicants, the amount of incentives awarded, and the contribution toward the program goals. (f) In establishing the program required by this section, no moneys shall be diverted from any existing programs for low-income ratepayers, or from cost-effective energy efficiency or demand response programs. (g) The statewide expenditures for solar programs adopted, implemented, and financed by local publicly owned electric utilities shall be seven hundred eighty-four million dollars ($784,000,000). The expenditure level for each local publicly owned electric utility shall be based on that utility's percentage of the total statewide load served by all local publicly owned electric utilities. Expenditures by a local publicly owned electric utility may be less than the utility's cap amount, provided that funding is adequate to provide the incentives required by subdivisions (a) and (b). SEC. 6. Section 2827 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read: 2827. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that a program to provide net energy metering for eligible customer-generators is one way to encourage substantial private investment in renewable energy resources, stimulate in-state economic growth, reduce demand for electricity during peak consumption periods, help stabilize California's energy supply infrastructure, enhance the continued diversification of California's energy resource mix, and reduce interconnection and administrative costs for electricity suppliers. (b) As used in this section, the following definitions apply: (1) "Electric service provider" means an electrical corporation, as defined in Section 218, a local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in Section 9604, or an electrical cooperative, as defined in Section 2776, or any other entity that offers electrical service. This section shall not apply to a local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in Section 9604 of the Public Utilities Code, that serves more than 750,000 customers and that also conveys water to its customers. (2) "Eligible customer-generator" means a residential, small commercial customer as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 331, commercial, industrial, or agricultural customer of an electric service provider, who uses a solar or a wind turbine electrical generating facility, or a hybrid system of both, with a capacity of not more than one megawatt that is located on the customer's owned, leased, or rented premises, is interconnected and operates in parallel with the electric grid, and is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer's own electrical requirements. (3) "Net energy metering" means measuring the difference between the electricity supplied through the electric grid and the electricity generated by an eligible customer-generator and fed back to the electric grid over a 12-month period as described in subdivision (h). Net energy metering shall be accomplished using a single meter capable of registering the flow of electricity in two directions. An additional meter or meters to monitor the flow of electricity in each direction may be installed with the consent of the customer-generator, at the expense of the electric service provider, and the additional metering shall be used only to provide the information necessary to accurately bill or credit the customer-generator pursuant to subdivision (h), or to collect solar or wind electric generating system performance information for research purposes. If the existing electrical meter of an eligible customer-generator is not capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two directions, the customer-generator shall be responsible for all expenses involved in purchasing and installing a meter that is able to measure electricity flow in two directions. If an additional meter or meters are installed, the net energy metering calculation shall yield a result identical to that of a single meter. An eligible customer-generator who already owns an existing solar or wind turbine electrical generating facility, or a hybrid system of both, is eligible to receive net energy metering service in accordance with this section. (4) "Wind energy co-metering" means any wind energy project greater than 50 kilowatts, but not exceeding one megawatt, where the difference between the electricity supplied through the electric grid and the electricity generated by an eligible customer-generator and fed back to the electric grid over a 12-month period is as described in subdivision (h). Wind energy co-metering shall be accomplished pursuant to Section 2827.8. (5) "Co-energy metering" means a program that is the same in all other respects as a net energy metering program, except that the local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in Section 9604, has elected to apply a generation-to-generation energy and time-of-use credit formula as provided in subdivision (i). (6) "Ratemaking authority" means, for an electrical corporation as defined in Section 218, or an electrical cooperative as defined in Section 2776, the commission, and for a local publicly owned electric utility as defined in Section 9604, the local elected body responsible for regulating the rates of the local publicly owned utility. (c) (1) Every electric service provider shall develop a standard contract or tariff providing for net energy metering, and shall make this contract available to eligible customer-generators, upon request, on a first-come-first-served basis until the time that the total rated generating capacity used by eligible customer-generators exceeds 2.5 percent of the electric service provider's aggregate customer peak demand. (2) On an annual basis, beginning in 2003, every electric service provider shall make available to the ratemaking authority information on the total rated generating capacity used by eligible customer-generators that are customers of that provider in the provider's service area. For those electric service providers who are operating pursuant to Section 394, they shall make available to the ratemaking authority the information required by this paragraph for each eligible customer-generator that is their customer for each service area of an electric corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, or electrical cooperative, in which the customer has net energy metering. The ratemaking authority shall develop a process for making the information required by this paragraph available to energy service providers, and for using that information to determine when, pursuant to paragraph (3), a service provider is not obligated to provide net energy metering to additional customer-generators in its service area. (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an electric service provider is not obligated to provide net energy metering to additional customer-generators in its service area when the combined total peak demand of all customer-generators served by all the electric service providers in that service area furnishing net energy metering to eligible customer-generators exceeds 2.5 percent of the aggregate customer peak demand of those electric service providers. (4) By January 1, 2010, the commission, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the costs and benefits of net energy metering, wind energy co-metering, and co-energy metering to participating customers and nonparticipating customers and with options to replace the economic costs and benefits of net energy metering, wind energy co-metering, and co-energy metering with a mechanism that more equitably balances the interests of participating and nonparticipating customers, and that incorporates the findings of the report on economic and environmental costs and benefits of net metering required by subdivision (n). (d) Electric service providers shall make all necessary forms and contracts for net metering service available for download from the Internet. (e) (1) Every electric service provider shall ensure that requests for establishment of net energy metering are processed in a time period not exceeding that for similarly situated customers requesting new electric service, but not to exceed 30 working days from the date the electric service provider receives a completed application form for net metering service, including a signed interconnection agreement from an eligible customer-generator and the electric inspection clearance from the governmental authority having jurisdiction. If an electric service provider is unable to process the request within the allowable timeframe, the electric service provider shall notify both the customer-generator and the ratemaking authority of the reason for its inability to process the request and the expected completion date. (2) Electric service providers shall ensure that requests for an interconnection agreement from an eligible customer-generator are processed in a time period not to exceed 30 working days from the date the electric service provider receives a completed application form from the eligible customer-generator for an interconnection agreement. If an electric service provider is unable to process the request within the allowable timeframe, the electric service provider shall notify the customer-generator and the ratemaking authority of the reason for its inability to process the request and the expected completion date. (f) (1) If a customer participates in direct transactions pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 365 with an electric supplier that does not provide distribution service for the direct transactions, the service provider that provides distribution service for an eligible customer-generator is not obligated to provide net energy metering to the customer. (2) If a customer participates in direct transactions pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 365 with an electric supplier, and the customer is an eligible customer-generator, the service provider that provides distribution service for the direct transactions may recover from the customer's electric service provider the incremental costs of metering and billing service related to net energy metering in an amount set by the ratemaking authority. (g) Except for the time-variant kilowatthour pricing portion of any tariff adopted by the commission pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 2851, each net energy metering contract or tariff shall be identical, with respect to rate structure, all retail rate components, and any monthly charges, to the contract or tariff to which the same customer would be assigned if the customer did not use an eligible solar or wind electrical generating facility, except that eligible customer-generators shall not be assessed standby charges on the electrical generating capacity or the kilowatthour production of an eligible solar or wind electrical generating facility. The charges for all retail rate components for eligible customer-generators shall be based exclusively on the customer-generator's net kilowatthour consumption over a 12-month period, without regard to the customer-generator's choice of electric service provider. Any new or additional demand charge, standby charge, customer charge, minimum monthly charge, interconnection charge, or any other charge that would increase an eligible customer-generator's costs beyond those of other customers who are not customer-generators in the rate class to which the eligible customer-generator would otherwise be assigned if the customer did not own, lease, rent, or otherwise operate an eligible solar or wind electrical generating facility are contrary to the intent of this section, and shall not form a part of net energy metering contracts or tariffs. (h) For eligible residential and small commercial customer-generators, the net energy metering calculation shall be made by measuring the difference between the electricity supplied to the eligible customer-generator and the electricity generated by the eligible customer-generator and fed back to the electric grid over a 12-month period. The following rules shall apply to the annualized net metering calculation: (1) The eligible residential or small commercial customer-generator shall, at the end of each 12-month period following the date of final interconnection of the eligible customer-generator's system with an electric service provider, and at each anniversary date thereafter, be billed for electricity used during that period. The electric service provider shall determine if the eligible residential or small commercial customer-generator was a net consumer or a net producer of electricity during that period. (2) At the end of each 12-month period, where the electricity supplied during the period by the electric service provider exceeds the electricity generated by the eligible residential or small commercial customer-generator during that same period, the eligible residential or small commercial customer-generator is a net electricity consumer and the electric service provider shall be owed compensation for the eligible customer-generator's net kilowatthour consumption over that same period. The compensation owed for the eligible residential or small commercial customer-generator's consumption shall be calculated as follows: (A) For all eligible customer-generators taking service under tariffs employing "baseline" and "over baseline" rates, any net monthly consumption of electricity shall be calculated according to the terms of the contract or tariff to which the same customer would be assigned to or be eligible for if the customer was not an eligible customer-generator. If those same customer-generators are net generators over a billing period, the net kilowatthours generated shall be valued at the same price per kilowatthour as the electric service provider would charge for the baseline quantity of electricity during that billing period, and if the number of kilowatthours generated exceeds the baseline quantity, the excess shall be valued at the same price per kilowatthour as the electric service provider would charge for electricity over the baseline quantity during that billing period. (B) For all eligible customer-generators taking service under tariffs employing "time of use" rates, any net monthly consumption of electricity shall be calculated according to the terms of the contract or tariff to which the same customer would be assigned to or be eligible for if the customer was not an eligible customer-generator. When those same customer-generators are net generators during any discrete time of use period, the net kilowatthours produced shall be valued at the same price per kilowatthour as the electric service provider would charge for retail kilowatthour sales during that same time of use period. If the eligible customer-generator's time of use electrical meter is unable to measure the flow of electricity in two directions, paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) shall apply. (C) For all residential and small commercial customer-generators and for each billing period, the net balance of moneys owed to the electric service provider for net consumption of electricity or credits owed to the customer-generator for net generation of electricity shall be carried forward as a monetary value until the end of each 12-month period. For all commercial, industrial, and agricultural customer-generators the net balance of moneys owed shall be paid in accordance with the electric service provider's normal billing cycle, except that if the commercial, industrial, or agricultural customer-generator is a net electricity producer over a normal billing cycle, any excess kilowatthours generated during the billing cycle shall be carried over to the following billing period as a monetary value, calculated according to the procedures set forth in this section, and appear as a credit on the customer-generator's account, until the end of the annual period when paragraph (3) shall apply. (3) At the end of each 12-month period, where the electricity generated by the eligible customer-generator during the 12-month period exceeds the electricity supplied by the electric service provider during that same period, the eligible customer-generator is a net electricity producer and the electric service provider shall retain any excess kilowatthours generated during the prior 12-month period. The eligible customer-generator shall not be owed any compensation for those excess kilowatthours unless the electric service provider enters into a purchase agreement with the eligible customer-generator for those excess kilowatthours. (4) The electric service provider shall provide every eligible residential or small commercial customer-generator with net electricity consumption information with each regular bill. That information shall include the current monetary balance owed the electric service provider for net electricity consumed since the last 12-month period ended. Notwithstanding this subdivision, an electric service provider shall permit that customer to pay monthly for net energy consumed. (5) If an eligible residential or small commercial customer-generator terminates the customer relationship with the electric service provider, the electric service provider shall reconcile the eligible customer-generator's consumption and production of electricity during any part of a 12-month period following the last reconciliation, according to the requirements set forth in this subdivision, except that those requirements shall apply only to the months since the most recent 12-month bill. (6) If an electric service provider providing net metering to a residential or small commercial customer-generator ceases providing that electrical service to that customer during any 12-month period, and the customer-generator enters into a new net metering contract or tariff with a new electric service provider, the 12-month period, with respect to that new electric service provider, shall commence on the date on which the new electric service provider first supplies electric service to the customer-generator. (i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the following provisions shall apply to an eligible customer-generator with a capacity of more than 10 kilowatts, but not exceeding one megawatt, that receives electrical service from a local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in Section 9604, that has elected to utilize a co-energy metering program unless the electric service provider chooses to provide service for eligible customer-generators with a capacity of more than 10 kilowatts in accordance with subdivisions (g) and (h): (1) The eligible customer-generator shall be required to utilize a meter, or multiple meters, capable of separately measuring electricity flow in both directions. All meters shall provide "time-of-use" measurements of electricity flow, and the customer shall take service on a time-of-use rate schedule. If the existing meter of the eligible customer-generator is not a time-of-use meter or is not capable of measuring total flow of energy in both directions, the eligible customer-generator shall be responsible for all expenses involved in purchasing and installing a meter that is both time-of-use and able to measure total electricity flow in both directions. This subdivision shall not restrict the ability of an eligible customer-generator to utilize any economic incentives provided by a government agency or the electric service provider to reduce its costs for purchasing and installing a time-of-use meter. (2) The consumption of electricity from the electric service provider shall result in a cost to the eligible customer-generator to be priced in accordance with the standard rate charged to the eligible customer-generator in accordance with the rate structure to which the customer would be assigned if the customer did not use an eligible solar or wind electrical generating facility. The generation of electricity provided to the electric service provider shall result in a credit to the eligible customer-generator and shall be priced in accordance with the generation component, established under the applicable structure to which the customer would be assigned if the customer did not use an eligible solar or wind electrical generating facility. (3) All costs and credits shall be shown on the eligible customer-generator's bill for each billing period. In any months in which the eligible customer-generator has been a net consumer of electricity calculated on the basis of value determined pursuant to paragraph (2), the customer-generator shall owe to the electric service provider the balance of electricity costs and credits during that billing period. In any billing period in which the eligible customer-generator has been a net producer of electricity calculated on the basis of value determined pursuant to paragraph (2), the electric service provider shall owe to the eligible customer-generator the balance of electricity costs and credits during that billing period. Any net credit to the eligible customer-generator of electricity costs may be carried forward to subsequent billing periods, provided that an electric service provider may choose to carry the credit over as a kilowatthour credit consistent with the provisions of any applicable tariff, including any differences attributable to the time of generation of the electricity. At the end of each 12-month period, the electric service provider may reduce any net credit due to the eligible customer-generator to zero. (j) A solar or wind turbine electrical generating system, or a hybrid system of both, used by an eligible customer-generator shall meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by the National Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories and, where applicable, rules of the Public Utilities Commission regarding safety and reliability. A customer-generator whose solar or wind turbine electrical generating system, or a hybrid system of both, meets those standards and rules shall not be required to install additional controls, perform or pay for additional tests, or purchase additional liability insurance. (k) If the commission determines that there are cost or revenue obligations for an electric corporation, as defined in Section 218, that may not be recovered from customer-generators acting pursuant to this section, those obligations shall remain within the customer class from which any shortfall occurred and may not be shifted to any other customer class. Net-metering and co-metering customers shall not be exempt from the public benefits charge. In its report to the Legislature, the commission shall examine different methods to ensure that the public benefits charge remains a nonbypassable charge. (l) A net metering customer shall reimburse the Department of Water Resources for all charges that would otherwise be imposed on the customer by the commission to recover bond-related costs pursuant to an agreement between the commission and the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Section 80110 of the Water Code, as well as the costs of the department equal to the share of the department's estimated net unavoidable power purchase contract costs attributable to the customer. The commission shall incorporate the determination into an existing proceeding before the commission, and shall ensure that the charges are nonbypassable. Until the commission has made a determination regarding the nonbypassable charges, net metering shall continue under the same rules, procedures, terms, and conditions as were applicable on December 31, 2002. (m) In implementing the requirements of subdivisions (k) and (l), a customer-generator shall not be required to replace its existing meter except as set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), nor shall the electric service provider require additional measurement of usage beyond that which is necessary for customers in the same rate class as the eligible customer-generator. (n) On or before January 1, 2005, the commission shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature that assesses the economic and environmental costs and benefits of net metering to customer-generators, ratepayers, and utilities, including any beneficial and adverse effects on public benefit programs and special purpose surcharges. The report shall be prepared by an independent party under contract with the commission. (o) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Treasurer incorporate net energy metering and co-energy metering projects undertaken pursuant to this section as sustainable building methods or distributive energy technologies for purposes of evaluating low-income housing projects. SEC. 7. Section 2851 is added to Chapter 9 of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, to read: 2851. (a) In implementing the California Solar Initiative, the commission shall do all of the following: (1) The commission shall authorize the award of monetary incentives for up to the first megawatt of alternating current generated by solar energy systems that meet the eligibility criteria established by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission pursuant to Chapter 8.8 (commencing with Section 25780) of Division 15 of the Public Resources Code. The commission shall determine the eligibility of a solar energy system, as defined in Section 25781 of the Public Resources Code, to receive monetary incentives until the time the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission establishes eligibility criteria pursuant to Section 25782. Monetary incentives shall not be awarded for solar energy systems that do not meet the eligibility criteria. The incentive level authorized by the commission shall decline each year following implementation of the California Solar Initiative, at a rate of no less than an average of 7 percent per year, and shall be zero as of December 31, 2016. The commission shall adopt and publish a schedule of declining incentive levels no less than 30 days in advance of the first decline in incentive levels. The commission may develop incentives based upon the output of electricity from the system, provided those incentives are consistent with the declining incentive levels of this paragraph and the incentives apply to only the first megawatt of electricity generated by the system. (2) The commission shall adopt a performance-based incentive program so that by January 1, 2008, 100 percent of incentives for solar energy systems of 100 kilowatts or greater and at least 50 percent of incentives for solar energy systems of 30 kilowatts or greater are earned based on the actual electrical output of the solar energy systems. The commission shall encourage, and may require, performance-based incentives for solar energy systems of less than 30 kilowatts. Performance-based incentives shall decline at a rate of no less than an average of 7 percent per year. In developing the performance-based incentives, the commission may: (A) Apply performance-based incentives only to customer classes designated by the commission. (B) Design the performance-based incentives so that customers may receive a higher level of incentives than under incentives based on installed electrical capacity. (C) Develop financing options that help offset the installation costs of the solar energy system, provided that this financing is ultimately repaid in full by the consumer or through the application of the performance-based rebates. (3) By January 1, 2008, the commission, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, shall require reasonable and cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in existing buildings as a condition of providing incentives for eligible solar energy systems, with appropriate exemptions or limitations to accommodate the limited financial resources of low-income residential housing. (4) Notwithstanding subdivision (g) of Section 2827, the commission shall require time-variant pricing for all ratepayers with a solar energy system. The commission shall develop a time-variant tariff that creates the maximum incentive for ratepayers to install solar energy systems so that the system's peak electricity production coincides with California's peak electricity demands and that assures that ratepayers receive due value for their contribution to the purchase of solar energy systems and customers with solar energy systems continue to have an incentive to use electricity efficiently. In developing the time-variant tariff, the commission may exclude customers participating in the tariff from the rate cap for residential customers for existing baseline quantities or usage by those customers of up to 130 percent of existing baseline quantities, as required by Section 80110 of the Water Code. Nothing in this paragraph authorizes the commission to require time-variant pricing for ratepayers without a solar energy system. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), in implementing the California Solar Initiative, the commission may authorize the award of monetary incentives for solar thermal and solar water heating devices, in a total amount up to one hundred million eight hundred thousand dollars ($100,800,000). (c) (1) In implementing the California Solar Initiative, the commission shall not allocate more than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) to research, development, and demonstration that explores solar technologies and other distributed generation technologies that employ or could employ solar energy for generation or storage of electricity or to offset natural gas usage. Any program that allocates additional moneys to research, development, and demonstration shall be developed in collaboration with the Energy Commission to ensure there is no duplication of efforts, and adopted by the commission through a rulemaking or other appropriate public proceeding. Any grant awarded by the commission for research, development, and demonstration shall be approved by the full commission at a public meeting. This subdivision does not prohibit the commission from continuing to allocate moneys to research, development, and demonstration pursuant to the self-generation incentive program for distributed generation resources originally established pursuant to Chapter 329 of the Statutes of 2000, as modified pursuant to Section 379.6. (2) The Legislature finds and declares that a program that provides a stable source of monetary incentives for eligible solar energy systems will encourage private investment sufficient to make solar technologies cost effective. (3) On or before June 30, 2009, and by June 30th of every year thereafter, the commission shall submit to the Legislature an assessment of the success of the California Solar Initiative program. That assessment shall include the number of residential and commercial sites that have installed solar thermal devices for which an award was made pursuant to subdivision (b) and the dollar value of the award, the number of residential and commercial sites that have installed solar energy systems, the electrical generating capacity of the installed solar energy systems, the cost of the program, total electrical system benefits, including the effect on electrical service rates, environmental benefits, how the program affects the operation and reliability of the electrical grid, how the program has affected peak demand for electricity, the progress made toward reaching the goals of the program, whether the program is on schedule to meet the program goals, and recommendations for improving the program to meet its goals. If the commission allocates additional moneys to research, development, and demonstration that explores solar technologies and other distributed generation technologies pursuant to paragraph (1), the commission shall include in the assessment submitted to the Legislature, a description of the program, a summary of each award made or project funded pursuant to the program, including the intended purposes to be achieved by the particular award or project, and the results of each award or project. (d) (1) The commission shall not impose any charge upon the consumption of natural gas, or upon natural gas ratepayers, to fund the California Solar Initiative. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any charge imposed to fund the program adopted and implemented pursuant to this section shall be imposed upon all customers not participating in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or family electric rate assistance (FERA) programs as provided in paragraph (2), including those residential customers subject to the rate cap required by Section 80110 of the Water Code for existing baseline quantities or usage up to 130 percent of existing baseline quantities of electricity. (3) The costs of the program adopted and implemented pursuant to this section may not be recovered from customers participating in the California Alternate Rates for Energy or CARE program established pursuant to Section 739.1, except to the extent that program costs are recovered out of the nonbypassable system benefits charge authorized pursuant to Section 399.8. (e) In implementing the California Solar Initiative, the commission shall ensure that the total cost over the duration of the program does not exceed three billion three hundred fifty million eight hundred thousand dollars ($3,350,800,000). The financial components of the California Solar Initiative shall consist of the following: (1) Programs under the supervision of the commission funded by charges collected from customers of San Diego Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The total cost over the duration of these programs shall not exceed two billion one hundred sixty-six million eight hundred thousand dollars ($2,166,800,000) and includes moneys collected directly into a tracking account for support of the California Solar Initiative and moneys collected into other accounts that are used to further the goals of the California Solar Initiative. (2) Programs adopted, implemented, and financed in the amount of seven hundred eighty-four million dollars ($784,000,000), by charges collected by local publicly owned electric utilities pursuant to Section 387.5. Nothing in this subdivision shall give the commission power and jurisdiction with respect to a local publicly owned electric utility or its customers. (3) Programs for the installation of solar energy systems on new construction, administered by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission pursuant to Chapter 8.6 (commencing with Section 25740) of Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, and funded by nonbypassable charges in the amount of four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000), collected from customers of San Diego Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company pursuant to Article 15 (commencing with Section 399). SEC. 8. The Contractors' State License Board shall review and, if needed, revise its licensing classifications and examinations to ensure that contractors authorized to perform work on solar energy systems subject to Chapter 8.8 (commencing with Section 25780) of Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, have the requisite qualifications to perform the work. SEC. 9. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.