Amended in Assembly August 3, 2016

Amended in Assembly August 1, 2016

Amended in Assembly June 14, 2016

Amended in Senate April 12, 2016

Senate Bill No. 1414

Introduced by Senator Wolk

(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Williams)

February 19, 2016

An act to add Section 25402.12 to the Public Resources Code, and to amend Section 399.4 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

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 promote compliance with specified regulations in the installation of central air conditioning and heat pumps. The bill would authorize the Energy Commission to adopt regulations to increase compliance with permitting and inspection requirements for central air conditioning and heat pumps, 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 begin delete provide proof of permit closure and end delete certify that the improvement or installation complied with any specifications or requirements set forth in the California Building Standards begin delete Code. end delete begin insert Code and, if a contractor performed the installation or improvement, that the contractor holds the appropriate license for the work performed. The bill would require the recipient of a central air conditioning or heat pump rebate or incentive to additionally provide a proof of permit closure. end insert 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 1.  

Section 25402.12 is added to the Public Resources
Code, to read:

25402.12.  

(a) On or before January 1, 2019, the commission,
in consultation with the Contractors’ State License Board, local
building officials, and other stakeholders, shall approve a plan that
will promote compliance with Part 6 of Title 24 of the California
Code of Regulations in the installation of central air conditioning
and heat pumps.

(b) Prior to approving the plan described in subdivision (a), the
commission shall do all of the following:

(1) Evaluate the best available technological and economic
information to ensure that data collection and its use is feasible
and achievable at a reasonable cost to government, industry, and
homeowners.

(2) Consider the impact of the plan on all of the following:

(A) Property owners.

(B) The begin delete HVAC end delete begin insert heating, ventilation, and air conditioning end insert
industry, including manufacturers, distributors, and contractors.

(C) Local governments.

(D) Building officials.

(E) The Contractors’ State License Board.

(3) Provide the public with the opportunity to review and
comment on the proposed plan.

(c) The commission may adopt regulations to increase
compliance with permitting and inspection requirements for central
air conditioning and heat pumps, and associated sales and
installations, consistent with the plan approved pursuant to
subdivision (a).

SEC. 2.  

Section 399.4 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:

399.4.  

(a) (1) In order to ensure that prudent investments in
energy efficiency continue to be made that produce cost-effective
energy savings, reduce customer demand, and contribute to the
safe and reliable operation of the electrical distribution grid, it is
the policy of this state and the intent of the Legislature that the
commission shall supervise the administration of cost-effective
energy efficiency programs authorized pursuant to its statutory
authority, including Sections 381, 381.1, 381.2, 381.5, 382, 384.5,
400, 454.5, 454.55, 454.56, 589, 701.1, 749, and 769, Article 10
(commencing with Section 890) of Chapter 4, and Chapter 6
(commencing with Section 2781) of Part 2.

(2) As used in this section, the term “energy efficiency” includes,
but is not limited to, cost-effective activities to achieve peak load
reduction that improve end-use efficiency, lower customers’ bills,
and reduce system needs.

(b) (1) Any rebates or incentives offered by a public utility for
an energy efficiency improvement or installation of energy efficient
components, equipment, or appliances in buildings shall be
provided only if the recipient of the rebate or incentive begin delete provides
proof of permit closure and end delete certifies that the improvement or
installation has complied with any applicable permitting
requirements and any specifications or requirements set forth in
the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California
Code of Regulations), and, if a contractor performed the installation
or improvement, that the contractor holds the appropriate license
for the work performed.

begin insert

(2) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), any rebates
or incentives offered by a public utility for the purchase or
installation of central air conditioning or heat pumps, or related
equipment, shall be provided only if the recipient of the rebate or
incentive provides proof of permit closure. The public utility is not
responsible for verifying the proof of permit closure documentation
provided by the recipient.

end insert begin delete

(2)

end delete

begin insert (3) end insert  This subdivision does not imply or create authority or
responsibility, or expand existing authority or responsibility, of a
public utility for the enforcement of the building energy and water
efficiency standards adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of
Section 25402 of the Public Resources Code, or appliance
efficiency standards and certification requirements adopted
pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 25402 of the Public
Resources Code.

begin insert

(4) Nothing in this subdivision shall limit the authority of the
commission to impose any additional requirements on a recipient
of any rebate or incentive.

end insert

(c) The commission, in evaluating energy efficiency investments
under its statutory authority, shall also ensure that local and
regional interests, multifamily dwellings, and energy service
industry capabilities are incorporated into program portfolio design
and that local governments, community-based organizations, and
energy efficiency service providers are encouraged to participate
in program implementation where appropriate.

(d) The commission, in a new or existing proceeding, shall
review and update its policies governing energy efficiency
programs funded by utility customers to facilitate achieving the
targets established pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 25310
of the Public Resources Code. In updating its policies, the
commission shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:

(1) Authorize market transformation programs with appropriate
levels of funding to achieve deeper energy efficiency savings.

(2) Authorize pay for performance programs that link incentives
directly to measured energy savings. As part of pay for performance
programs authorized by the commission, customers should be
reasonably compensated for developing and implementing an
energy efficiency plan, with a portion of their incentive reserved
pending post project measurement results.

(3) Authorize programs to achieve deeper savings through
operational, behavioral, and retrocommissioning activities.

(4) Ensure that customers have certainty in the values and
methodology used to determine energy efficiency incentives by
basing the amount of any incentives provided by gas and electrical
corporations on the values and methodology contained in the
executed customer agreement. Incentive payments shall be based
on measured results.