BILL NUMBER: AB 2529 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Williams
FEBRUARY 21, 2014
An act to amend Section 26004 of the Public Resources
Code, relating to energy. An act to add Section 25327
to the Public Resources Code, relating to energy.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2529, as amended, Williams. Energy: alternative energy
and advanced transportation. Energy: usage: plug-in
equipment.
Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission (Energy Commission), on a biennial basis, to
conduct assessments and forecasts of all aspects of energy industry
supply, production, transportation, delivery, and distribution.
Existing law requires the Energy Commission, beginning November 1,
2003, and biennially thereafter, to adopt an integrated energy policy
report containing an overview of major energy trends and issues
facing the state.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
jurisdiction over the public utilities, including electrical
corporations.
This bill would require the Energy Commission and the Public
Utilities Commission, working jointly, to perform a baseline study of
energy usage by plug-in equipment, as defined, in 2014 and to
develop a coordinated implementation plan to achieve by 2030
specified aggregate reductions in energy consumption by plug-in
equipment from the 2014 baseline, with biennial intermediate targets.
The bill would require the Energy Commission to report on the
progress towards meeting the reduction targets and update the
implementation plan as a part of the integrated energy policy report.
Existing law establishes the California Alternative Energy and
Advanced Transportation Financing Authority consisting of specified
members and authorizes the authority to provide financial assistance
to projects related to the utilization of alternative energy sources
or advanced transportation technologies.
This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to this
law.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
yes . State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all
of the following:
(1) Energy efficiency programs and standards are essential tools
to help California conserve energy.
(2) Currently, plug-in equipment, such as indoor and outdoor
appliances, consumer and office electronics, and power tools, are
responsible for nearly 60 percent of residential building electricity
consumption in California and their electricity consumption are
projected to increase by 2030.
(3) California has set ambitious goals for energy efficiency in
buildings and lighting, but does not have quantified goals for a
category that represents the majority of residential building
electricity consumption.
(4) Large and cost-effective energy savings opportunities remain
available in plug-in equipment through a combination of incentive
programs, partnerships with industry, research and development,
consumer education, and efficiency standards.
(5) Challenges with the attribution of business and consumer
electronics program savings to utilities and implementers are
limiting the effective utilization of these programs to capture
savings opportunities in residential and commercial plug-in
electronics.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to set a goal for plug-in
equipment energy consumption to ensure both of the following:
(1) Energy savings opportunities in support of the state's energy
and climate change goals are captured.
(2) The effective utilization of incentive programs, partnerships
with industry, research and development, consumer education, and
efficiency standards to meet the state's energy and climate goals.
SEC. 2. Section 25327 is added to the
Public Resources Code , to read:
25327. (a) (1) For the purposes of this section, except as
provided in paragraph (2), "plug-in equipment" means an electrical
device that plugs into a wall outlet, including, but not limited to,
indoor appliances, such as kitchen and laundry appliances, commercial
plug-in refrigeration, and security appliances; outdoor appliances,
such as hot tubs and pool pumps and heaters; consumer and office
electronics; personal care products; and power tools.
(2) "Plug-in equipment" does not include the following:
(A) Servers at industrial-scale data centers located in buildings
whose primary function is to be a data center.
(B) Heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) equipment.
(C) Built-in or portable lighting.
(D) Infrastructure loads connected directly to the building
wiring, such as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) breakers and
outlets, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, dimming switches,
doorbells, and garage openers.
(E) Electric vehicles.
(F) Medical devices as defined in subsection (h) of Section 321 of
Title 21 of the United States Code.
(b) The commission and the Public Utilities Commission, working
jointly, shall do all of the following:
(1) Perform a baseline study of energy use by plug-in equipment in
residential and commercial sectors of the state in 2014.
(2) Develop a coordinated implementation plan to achieve by 2030
at least a 30 percent aggregate reduction in energy consumption per
residential household, and 50 percent aggregate reduction in energy
consumption per square foot of commercial space, by plug-in equipment
in the state from the 2014 baseline determined pursuant to paragraph
(1), with biennial intermediate targets between 2016 to 2030.
(3) Work with stakeholders to address challenges that may inhibit
the achievement of the reduction targets set forth in paragraph (2),
including, but not limited to, the attribution of energy savings
associated with business and consumer electronics programs.
(4) Track the implementation of the plan in meeting the reduction
targets annually through the Electricity Supply Analysis Division of
the commission and the Energy Division of the Public Utilities
Commission.
(c) The commission shall report on the progress towards meeting
the reduction targets through the tracking pursuant to paragraph (4)
of subdivision (b) and update the implementation plan, as a part of
the integrated energy policy report required pursuant to Section
25302.
SECTION 1. Section 26004 of the Public
Resources Code is amended to read:
26004. (a) There is in the state government the California
Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority.
The authority constitutes a public instrumentality and the exercise
by the authority of powers conferred by this division is the
performance of an essential public function.
(b) The authority shall consist of five members, as follows:
(1) The Director of Finance.
(2) The Chairperson of the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission.
(3) The President of the Public Utilities Commission.
(4) The Controller.
(5) The Treasurer, who shall serve as the chairperson of the
authority.
(c) The members listed in subdivision (b) may each designate a
deputy or clerk in his or her agency to act for and represent the
member at all meetings of the authority.
(d) The first meeting of the authority shall be convened by the
Treasurer.