BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                           542 (Wiggins)
          
          Hearing Date:  05/28/2009           Amended: 04/29/2009
                                          Proposed to be amended
          Consultant:  Brendan McCarthy   Policy Vote: EU&C 10-1
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          ____
          BILL SUMMARY: SB 542 requires the Energy Commission to inform  
          solar energy system installers of existing statutory  
          requirements. The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission  
          to develop and implement a strategy to expand participation of  
          multi-unit residential and commercial rental properties in  
          existing energy efficiency and solar energy programs.
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          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2009-10      2010-11       2011-12     Fund
           
          Public Utilities Commission       $100        $200       
          $200Special *
            program oversight                                     

          * PUC Utilities Reimbursement Account.
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          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: Suspense file. As proposed to be amended.
          
          SB 542 requires the Energy Commission to ensure that solar  
          energy system installers are informed that systems installed on  
          manufactured homes must comply with building safety requirements  
          of the Health and Safety Code and state regulations. The Energy  
          Commission estimates that these costs are minor and can be  
          absorbed within existing resources.

          The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission, by July 2010,  
          to develop and begin implementing a strategy to expand the  
          participation of multi-unit residential and commercial rental  
          properties in existing energy efficiency and solar energy  
          programs. The bill requires that expanded participation be  
          supported by existing program funds or federal stimulus funds,  
          and that the program expansion not result in additional costs to  










          ratepayers. The Public Utilities Commission estimates that this  
          will require two additional positions.

          As proposed to be amended by author, the bill requires the  
          Public Utilities Commission to use an existing strategy to  
          address multi-unit residential energy efficiency projects.