SB 1414, as amended, Wolk. Energy.
Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to prescribe, by regulation, building design and construction standards and energy and water conservation design standards for new residential and nonresidential buildings. Existing law requires the Energy Commission to prescribe, by regulation, standards for minimum levels of operating efficiency to promote the use of energy-efficient and water-efficient appliances whose use requires a significant amount of energy or water on a statewide basis. Existing law requires that the minimum levels of operating efficiency be based on feasible and attainable efficiencies or feasible improved efficiencies that will reduce the energy or water consumption growth rates. Existing law prohibits a new appliance manufactured on or after the effective date of the operating efficiency standards to be sold or offered for sale in the state unless it is certified by the manufacturer to be in compliance with those standards.
This bill would require the Energy Commission, by January 1, 2019, to approve a plan that will promotebegin delete the installation of central air conditioning and heat pumps inend delete compliance with specifiedbegin delete regulations.end deletebegin insert regulations in the installation of central air conditioning and heat pumps.end insert The bill would authorize the Energy Commission to adopt regulations to increase compliance with permitting and inspection requirements for central air conditioning and heatbegin delete pumpsend deletebegin insert
pumps,end insert and associated sales and installations, consistent with that plan.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. The Reliable Electric Service Investments Act states the intent of the Legislature that the Public Utilities Commission continue to administer cost-effective energy efficiency programs that produce cost-effective energy savings, reduce customer demand, and contribute to the safe and reliable operation of the electrical distribution grid. Under the act, in order to receive a rebate or incentive offered by a public utility for an energy efficiency improvement or for the installation of energy efficient components, equipment, or appliances in buildings, the recipient is required to certify that the improvement or installation complied with any applicable permitting requirements and, if a contractor performed the installation or improvement, that the contractor holds the appropriate license for the work performed.
This bill would additionally require the recipient of an energy efficiency rebate or incentive to provide proof of permit closure and certify that the improvement or installation complied with any specifications or requirements set forth in the California Building Standards Code. The bill would also more specifically identify the Public Utility Commission’s statutory authority for supervising cost-effective energy efficiency programs.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 25402.12 is added to the Public Resources
2Code, to read:
(a) On or before January 1, 2019, the commission,
4in consultation with the Contractors’ State License Board, local
5building officials, and other stakeholders, shall approve a plan that
6will promotebegin delete the installation of central air conditioning and heat compliance with Part 6 of Title 24 of the California Code
P3 1pumps inend delete
2ofbegin delete Regulations.end deletebegin insert
Regulations in the installation of central air
3conditioning and heat pumps.end insert
4(b) Prior to approving the plan described in subdivision (a), the
5commission shall do all of the following:
6(1) Evaluate the best available technological and economic
7information to ensure that data collection and its use is feasible
8and achievable at a reasonable cost to government, industry, and
9homeowners.
10(2) Consider the impact of the plan on all of the following:
11(A) Property owners.
12(B) The HVAC industry, including manufacturers, distributors,
13and contractors.
14(C) Local governments.
15(D) Building officials.
16(E) The Contractors’ State License Board.
17(3) Provide the public with the opportunity to review and
18comment on the proposed plan.
19(c) The commission may adopt regulations to increase
20compliance with permitting and inspection requirements for central
21air conditioning and heatbegin delete pumpsend deletebegin insert
pumps,end insert and associated sales and
22installations, consistent with the plan approved pursuant to
23subdivision (a).
Section 399.4 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
25to read:
(a) (1) In order to ensure that prudent investments in
27energy efficiency continue to be made that produce cost-effective
28energy savings, reduce customer demand, and contribute to the
29safe and reliable operation of the electrical distribution grid, it is
30the policy of this state and the intent of the Legislature that the
31commission shall supervise the administration of cost-effective
32energy efficiency programs authorized pursuant to its statutory
33authority, including Sections 381, 381.1, 381.2, 381.5, 382, 384.5,
34400, 454.5, 454.55, 454.56, 589, 701.1, 749, and 769, Article 10
35(commencing with Section 890) of Chapter 4, and Chapter 6
36(commencing with Section 2781) of Part 2.
37(2) As used in this section, the term “energy efficiency” includes,
38but is not limited to, cost-effective activities to achieve peak load
39
reduction that improve end-use efficiency, lower customers’ bills,
40and reduce system needs.
P4 1(b) (1) Any rebates or incentives offered by a public utility for
2an energy efficiency improvement or installation of energy efficient
3components, equipment, or appliances in buildings shall be
4provided only if the recipient of the rebate or incentive provides
5proof of permit closure and certifies that the improvement or
6installation has complied with any applicable permitting
7requirements and any specifications or requirements set forth in
8the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California
9Code of Regulations), and, if a contractor performed the installation
10or improvement, that the contractor holds the appropriate license
11for the work performed.
12(2) This subdivision does not imply or create authority or
13responsibility, or expand existing authority or responsibility, of a
14public utility for the enforcement of the building energy and water
15efficiency standards adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of
16Section 25402 of the Public Resources Code, or appliance
17efficiency standards and certification requirements adopted
18pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 25402 of the Public
19Resources Code.
20(c) The commission, in evaluating energy efficiency investments
21under its statutory authority, shall also ensure that local and
22regional interests, multifamily dwellings, and energy service
23industry capabilities are incorporated into program portfolio design
24and that local governments, community-based organizations, and
25energy efficiency service providers are encouraged to
participate
26in program implementation where appropriate.
27(d) The commission, in a new or existing proceeding, shall
28review and update its policies governing energy efficiency
29programs funded by utility customers to facilitate achieving the
30targets established pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 25310
31of the Public Resources Code. In updating its policies, the
32commission shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:
33(1) Authorize market transformation programs with appropriate
34levels of funding to achieve deeper energy efficiency savings.
35(2) Authorize pay for performance programs that link incentives
36directly to measured energy savings. As part of pay for performance
37programs authorized by the commission, customers
should be
38reasonably compensated for developing and implementing an
39energy efficiency plan, with a portion of their incentive reserved
40pending post project measurement results.
P5 1(3) Authorize programs to achieve deeper savings through
2operational, behavioral, and retrocommissioning activities.
3(4) Ensure that customers have certainty in the values and
4methodology used to determine energy efficiency incentives by
5basing the amount of any incentives provided by gas and electrical
6corporations on the values and methodology contained in the
7executed customer agreement. Incentive payments shall be based
8on measured results.
O
96