SB 37, as introduced, De León. Energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades: on-bill repayment program.
Under existing law the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations, as defined. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact an on-bill repayment program that will provide Californians greater access to energy efficiency and clean technology upgrades.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
3(a) Despite existing programs, large numbers of Californians
4currently do not have access to energy efficiency and clean
5technology upgrades.
6(b) Existing clean energy programs and incentives are important
7but limited in that they are underfunded and reach only a small
8number of Californians due to restrictions in income level, credit
9score, project size, or commercial-only eligibility.
P2 1(c) Energy efficiency and clean technology upgrades currently
2have especially low penetration rate due to a split incentive between
3renter and landlord over the costs
and benefits of such projects.
4(d) California’s current economic condition necessitates that
5the Legislature develop pioneering ways to create sustainable,
6green collar jobs.
7(e) On-bill repayment is an innovative and pioneering concept
8that would provide affordable financing of energy efficiency and
9on-site clean generation technology upgrades by tying repayment
10of the loan obligation to the utility meter.
11(f) By tying repayment to the utility bill, ratepayers would repay
12the loan on the same bill where savings are realized from the
13investment, creating a potential net bill neutrality or even a
14decrease in the ratepayer’s bill as a result of the investment.
15(g) On-bill repayment would be a unique clean energy incentive
16program because it would not rely
on ratepayer or taxpayer funding
17and it would expand access to energy efficiency and clean
18technology upgrades.
19(h) On-bill repayment would incentivize private investors to
20invest in California’s clean energy improvements, would stimulate
21the state’s economy by creating jobs for contractors and other
22persons who complete new energy improvements, and would
23reinforce the leadership role of the state in the new energy
24economy, thereby attracting clean energy manufacturing facilities
25and related jobs to the state.
26(i) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact an on-bill repayment
27program that will provide Californians greater access to energy
28efficiency and clean technology upgrades.
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