BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 270
Author: Bradford (D)
Amended: 6/25/13 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE ENERGY, UTIL. & COMMUNIC. COMMITTEE : 8-0, 6/18/13
AYES: Padilla, Fuller, Corbett, DeSaulnier, Hill, Knight, Wolk,
Wright
NO VOTE RECORDED: Cannella, De Le�n, Pavley
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 70-0, 5/16/13 (Consent) - See last page for
vote
SUBJECT : Public utilities: ratepayer-funded energy
efficiency assistance
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the Public Utilities Commission
(PUC) to direct investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to establish a
single public Internet Web site containing aggregate information
on ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs by June 1, 2014.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1. Requires electrical and gas corporations (IOUs) to pursue all
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cost effective and feasible energy efficiency and demand
reduction resources to meet unmet resource needs before
additional energy procurement. The PUC is required to
identify potential energy efficiency savings and establish
targets for electrical and gas utilities.
2. Requires that the PUC prepare a written report to the
Legislature detailing mandated programs and their costs to
ratepayers.
This bill:
1. Requires the PUC, by June 1, 2014, to direct the IOUs to
produce a single Internet Web site for public access of
information regarding energy efficiency programs including
data on site location, project cost, and projected energy
savings. Customer specific information will be excluded from
the Web site.
2. Requires the PUC to report on its efforts to identify
ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs that are similar
to programs administered by other state agencies. The PUC is
also required to make revisions to programs to ensure they
are complimentary and not duplicative of other state efforts.
Background
Energy efficiency . California has pursued its energy demand
reduction goals through two primary avenues: utility-sponsored
programs to reduce end-user consumption, and codes and standards
designed to lower the energy use of buildings and appliances.
By 2004, these efforts had cumulatively saved more than 40,000
gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity and 12,000 megawatts (MWs)
of peak electricity, equivalent to 24 500-MWs power plants.
More than half of the statewide savings has come from the
building and appliance standards, with the balance resulting
from programs implemented by the state's IOUs and local
publicly-owned utilities (POUs). As a result of these efforts
California's energy use per capita has remained stable for more
than 30 years while the national per capita average has
increased by 40% and is nearly double that of California.
Energy efficiency is at the top of the "loading order," and
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California's utilities are required to first meet their energy
needs through cost-effective energy efficiency measures before
renewable and conventional generation. The state's IOUs and, to
a lesser extent, the POUs, administer hundreds of energy
efficiency programs that provide financial incentives and
rebates for installing energy efficient appliances, lighting,
windows, HVAC systems and other technologies or measures. The
Legislative Analyst's Office reports that these programs have
totaled $9 billion in ratepayer funding since IOUs began
administering them in 1998. The PUC reports the IOUs have
requested roughly $2 billion in funding for energy efficiency
programs in 2013-14, including HVAC, lighting, government
partnerships, non-residential custom projects, and financing
programs. These programs are expected to generate 4,670 GWh of
energy savings in that cycle.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/9/13)
Division of Ratepayer Advocates
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the Silicon Valley
Leadership Group, "New programs to increase energy efficiency
are being developed consistently through the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC) and other state agencies.
Ratepayers are often reliant on these programs to help manage
energy bills. However, there is currently no central publically
available information on how and where energy efficiency funds
are being expended and what results are being achieved. AB 270
aims to eliminate this issue by creating a public website that
contains details regarding current ratepayer-funded energy
efficiency programs. The Leadership Group appreciates this
effort to help close the information gap and alleviate program
duplication."
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 70-0, 5/16/13
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom,
Blumenfield, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Ian
Calderon, Campos, Chau, Ch�vez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley,
Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Donnelly, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Garcia,
Gatto, Gomez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Hagman, Hall, Harkey,
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Roger Hern�ndez, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Logue,
Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mansoor, Medina, Mitchell, Mullin,
Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea,
V. Manuel P�rez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Salas, Skinner,
Ting, Torres, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk,
Williams, Yamada, John A. P�rez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Allen, Buchanan, Eggman, Beth Gaines, Grove,
Holden, Melendez, Morrell, Stone, Vacancy
JG:k 8/12/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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