BILL NUMBER: AB 2804 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 542 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 28, 2008 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 28, 2008 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 14, 2008 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 21, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 30, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 4, 2008 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 14, 2008 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Hayashi FEBRUARY 22, 2008 An act to add Section 2851.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2804, Hayashi. Renewable energy resources: California Solar Initiative. Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. A decision of the commission adopted the California Solar Initiative. Existing law requires the commission to undertake certain steps in implementing the California Solar Initiative, including authorizing the award of monetary incentives for up to the first megawatt of alternating current generated by a solar energy system, as defined, with the incentive level declining each year following implementation at a rate of no less than an average of 7% per year. The California Solar Initiative sets forth the procedures by which applicants, including school and community college districts, that have committed to purchase and install a solar energy system may reserve funding to be made available upon installation of the system. This bill would authorize a school district or community college district to request the extension of a reservation expiration date for monetary incentives for a solar energy system, up to a maximum of 3 extensions of 180 calendar days for each extension. The bill would require that the request be made in writing to the program administrators and contain specified information relating to the need for additional time. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 2851.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read: 2851.5. (a) A school district or community college district may request an extension of a reservation expiration date for monetary incentives for a solar energy system. The commission may grant a maximum of three extensions of 180 calendar days for each extension. (b) An extension request pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be made in writing, submitted to the program administrators, and shall include a written explanation of the need for the extension and the amount of additional time needed. In describing the need for the time extension request, the school district or community college district shall provide information on the circumstances, that are beyond the control of the district, that prevent the solar energy system from being installed as previously described in the initial reservation request. A failure to submit the incentive claim form package by the original or extended reservation expiration date shall result in the cancellation of the request. (c) An approval of a request for a change in the reservation expiration date for monetary incentives for a solar energy system shall not modify any other condition of a reservation for incentives.