BILL NUMBER: SB 730 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 21, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 9, 2010
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 6, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Senator Wiggins
( Coauthor: Assembly Member
Huffman )
FEBRUARY 27, 2009
An act to amend Section 399.4 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to energy efficiency.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 730, as amended, Wiggins. Sonoma County Energy Efficiency Pilot
Project Act of 2010.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations,
as defined. The Public Utilities Act requires the commission to
review and adopt a procurement plan for each electrical corporation
in accordance with specified elements, incentive mechanisms, and
objectives. The act requires that an electrical corporation's
proposed procurement plan include certain elements, including a
showing that the electrical corporation will first meet its unmet
needs through all available energy efficiency and demand reduction
resources that are cost effective, reliable, and feasible. The act
additionally requires the commission, in consultation with the State
Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, to identify
all potentially achievable cost-effective electricity efficiency
savings and to establish efficiency targets for electrical
corporations to achieve pursuant to their procurement plan. Existing
law relative to the restructuring of the electrical services industry
requires the commission, in evaluating energy efficiency
investments, to ensure that local and regional interests, multifamily
dwellings, and energy service industry capabilities are incorporated
into an electrical corporation's energy efficiency program portfolio
design and that local governments, community-based organizations,
and energy efficiency service providers are encouraged to participate
in program implementation, where appropriate.
This bill would require the commission, in evaluating energy
efficiency investments, to ensure that local and regional interests,
multifamily dwellings, and energy service industry capabilities are
incorporated into an electrical corporation's energy efficiency
program portfolio design , and that
seek participation from local governments, community-based
organizations, and energy efficiency service providers are
encouraged to participate in program design, revision, and
implementation, where appropriate. The bill would require an
electrical corporation, when developing or revising its energy
efficiency program portfolio design, to collaborate with, and seek
comments from, county climate protection authorities or other public
agencies that are directly authorized to implement regional or
countywide climate protection and energy efficiency programs.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any
order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the
commission is a crime.
Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and
place additional duties upon electrical corporations, the bill would
impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.
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 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 electric distribution grid, it is the
policy of this state and the intent of the Legislature that the
commission shall continue to administer cost-effective energy
efficiency programs authorized pursuant to existing statutory
authority.
(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) The commission, in evaluating energy efficiency investments
under its existing statutory authority, shall also
ensure that local and regional interests, including the Sonoma
County Regional Climate Protection Authority established pursuant to
Division 19.1 (commencing with Section 181000), multifamily
dwellings, and energy service industry capabilities are incorporated
into program portfolio design , and that local
governments, including county regional climate protection authorities
and seek participation from local governments ,
community-based organizations, and energy efficiency service
providers are encouraged to participate in program
design, revision, and implementation where appropriate.
(c) When developing or revising its energy efficiency program
portfolio design, an electrical corporation shall collaborate with,
and seek comments from, county climate protection authorities or
other public agencies that are directly authorized to implement
regional or countywide climate protection and energy efficiency
programs.
SEC. 2. 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.