BILL NUMBER: AB 793	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Quirk

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2015

   An act to amend Section 2790 of, and to add Section 8365 to, the
Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 793, as introduced, Quirk. Energy efficiency.
   (1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has
regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical
corporations and gas corporations, as defined. Existing law requires
the commission to require an electrical or gas corporation to perform
home weatherization services for low-income customers, if the
commission determines that a significant need for those services
exists in the corporation's service territory. For these purposes,
existing law authorizes weatherization, where feasible, to include
certain measures for a dwelling unit. Existing law also authorizes
weatherization, for these purposes, to include other measures
determined by the commission to be feasible, taking into
consideration the cost-effectiveness of the measures as a whole and
the policy of reducing energy-related hardships facing low-income
households.
   This bill would require weatherization, for the above-specified
purposes, to include home energy management technology, as defined,
determined by the commission to be feasible, taking into
consideration the above-described factors.
    (2) Existing law requires the commission, by July 1, 2010, and in
consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission, the Independent System Operator, and other
key stakeholders, to determine the requirements for a smart grid
deployment plan consistent with specified policies and federal law.
Existing law requires each electrical corporation, by July 1, 2011,
to develop and submit a smart grid deployment plan to the commission
for approval.
   This bill would require the commission to require each electrical
corporation to develop and implement a plan to educate its
residential and small business customers whose homes or places of
business are equipped with an advanced meter about how they can use
data from the advanced meter to better understand and control their
use of electricity. The bill would require the commission to require
each electrical corporation to develop a rebate program to reimburse
a residential or small business customer, as prescribed, who
purchases energy management technology for use in the customer's home
or place of business.
   (3) Because a violation of any part of any order, decision, rule,
direction, demand, or requirement of the Public Utilities Commission
is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 2790 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   2790.  (a) The commission shall require an electrical or gas
corporation to perform home weatherization services for low-income
customers, as determined by the commission under Section 739, if the
commission determines that a significant need for those services
exists in the corporation's service territory, taking into
consideration both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the
policy of reducing the hardships facing low-income households.
   (b) (1) For purposes of this section, "weatherization" may
include, where feasible, any of the following measures for any
dwelling unit:
   (A) Attic insulation.
   (B) Caulking.
   (C) Weatherstripping.
   (D) Low flow showerhead.
   (E) Waterheater blanket.
   (F) Door and building envelope repairs that reduce air
infiltration.
   (2) The commission shall direct any electrical or gas corporation
to provide as many of these measures as are feasible for each
eligible low-income dwelling unit.
   (c) "Weatherization" may also include other building conservation
measures,  home energy management technology, 
energy-efficient appliances, and energy education programs determined
by the commission to be feasible, taking into consideration for all
measures both the cost-effectiveness of the measures as a whole and
the policy of reducing energy-related hardships facing low-income
households.
   (d) Weatherization programs shall use the needs assessment
pursuant to Section 382.1 to maximize efficiency of delivery. 
   (e) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
following meanings:  
   (1) "Home energy management technology" is a product or service
that allows a customer to better understand and manage energy use in
the customer's home and may include, but is not limited to, a home
energy monitor.  
   (2) "Home energy monitor" is a device that is able to provide
household electricity consumption in real-time by connecting to an
advanced meter equipped with home area network functionality. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 8365 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   8365.  (a) The commission shall require each electrical
corporation to do the following:
   (1) Develop and implement a plan by June 30, 2016, to educate its
residential customers and small business customers whose homes or
places of business are equipped with an advanced meter about how they
can use data from the advanced meter to better understand and
control their use of electricity. The plan shall include notification
of the rebate program developed pursuant to paragraph (2).
   (2) Develop a rebate program no later than June 30, 2016, to
reimburse a residential customer or small business customer who
purchases energy management technology for use in the customer's home
or place of business. The rebate shall be an amount equal to ___
percent of the retail value of the product or service, not to exceed
___.
   (b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
following meanings:
   (1) "Energy management technology" is a product or service that
allows a customer to better understand and manage electricity use in
the customer's home or place of business and may include, but is not
limited to, an energy monitor.
   (2) "Energy monitor" is a device that is able to provide
electricity consumption in real-time or near real-time by connecting
to an advanced meter equipped with home area network functionality.
  SEC. 3.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.