AB 1258, as introduced, Skinner. Electricity: hydroelectric facilities.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities and can establish its own procedures, subject to statutory limitations or directions and constitutional requirements of due process.
Existing law requires the PUC to open a new proceeding to determine the appropriate targets, if any, for each load-serving entity to procure viable and cost-effective energy storage systems to be achieved by December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2020.
This bill would require the commission to open a new proceeding or expand the scope of an existing proceeding to determine the potential use of hydroelectric facilities and specified pumped storage facilities to provide energy resources with deliverability characteristics that may include dispatchable baseload, firm, and as-available capacity.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
It is the intent of the Legislature that load serving
2entities maximize the use of existing hydroelectric and pumped
P2 1storage facilities for energy storage and renewable energy
2integration, subject to constraints required to protect fish, wildlife,
3and public safety.
Section 2836 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
5to read:
(a) (1) On or before March 1, 2012, the commission
7shall open a proceeding to determine appropriate targets, if any,
8for each load-serving entity to procure viable and cost-effective
9energy storage systems to be achieved by December 31, 2015, and
10December 31, 2020. As part of this proceeding, the commission
11may consider a variety of possible policies to encourage the
12cost-effective deployment of energy storage systems, including
13refinement of existing procurement methods to properly value
14energy storage systems.
15(2) The commission shall adopt the procurement targets, if
16determined to be appropriate pursuant to paragraph (1), by October
171, 2013.
18(3) The commission shall reevaluate
the determinations made
19pursuant to this subdivision not less than once every three years.
20(4) Nothing in this section prohibits the commission’s evaluation
21and approval of any application for funding or recovery of costs
22of any ongoing or new development, trialing, and testing of energy
23storage projects or technologies outside of the proceeding required
24by this chapter.
25(b) (1) On or before March 1, 2012, the governing board of
26each local publicly owned electric utility shall initiate a process
27to determine appropriate targets, if any, for the utility to procure
28viable and cost-effective energy storage systems to be achieved
29by December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2020. As part of this
30proceeding, the governing board may consider a variety of possible
31policies to encourage the cost-effective deployment of energy
32storage systems, including refinement of
existing procurement
33methods to properly value energy storage systems.
34(2) The governing board shall adopt the procurement targets, if
35determined to be appropriate pursuant to paragraph (1), by October
361, 2014.
37(3) The governing board shall reevaluate the determinations
38made pursuant to this subdivision not less than once every three
39years.
P3 1(c) (1) On or before March 1, 2014, the commission shall open
2a new proceeding or expand the scope of an existing proceeding
3to determine the potential use of hydroelectric facilities and
4pumped storage facilities specified in paragraph (2) to provide
5energy resources with deliverability characteristics that may
6include dispatchable baseload, firm, and as-available
capacity.
7(2) The pumped storage facilities to which paragraph (1) applies
8are the Helms pumped storage facility, the Balsam Meadow
9pumped storage facility, the Oroville pumped storage facility, and
10the San Luis pumped storage facility.
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