BILL ANALYSIS � 1
SENATE ENERGY, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
ALEX PADILLA, CHAIR
SB 870 - Padilla Hearing Date:
May 3, 2011 S
As Introduced: February 18, 2011 FISCAL B
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DESCRIPTION
Current law establishes the California Energy Commission (CEC)
with five appointed members, one of whom serves as the chairman
of the body.
Current law requires the President of the California Public
Utilities Commission to appear before the appropriate policy
committees of the Legislature each year to report on the
activities of the commission.
This bill requires the chair of the CEC to also appear before
the appropriate policy committees to report on the activities of
the CEC.
BACKGROUND
The CEC is an energy policy and planning agency created by the
Legislature in 1974. The CEC responsibilities include:
Forecasting future energy needs and keeping historical
energy data;
Licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts or larger;
Promoting energy efficiency by setting the state's
appliance and building efficiency standards and working
with local government to enforce those standards;
Supporting public interest energy research that advances
energy science and technology through research,
development, and demonstration programs;
Supporting renewable energy by providing market support
to existing, new, and emerging renewable technologies;
providing incentives for small wind and fuel cell
electricity systems; and providing incentives for solar
electricity systems in new home construction;
Implementing the state's Alternative and Renewable Fuel
and Vehicle Technology Program; and
Planning for and directing state response to energy
emergencies.
The Governor nominates and the Senate approves five people to
act as full-time energy commissioners. They are appointed to
staggered five-year terms of office. From the five members, the
Governor also picks a Chairman and Vice Chair for two-year
terms. Each of the appointees comes from a specific background:
the law, economics, environmental studies or sciences,
engineering or science, and the public at large.
The basic programs of the CEC and most of its staff are funded
through a surcharge on electricity consumption. As of November
8, 2010, this is set at two-and-nine-tenths of one mil
($0.00029) per kilowatt/hour (kWh) of electricity consumed by
all electrical customers. If an average residential customer
uses 600 kWh of electricity per month, they would pay 17.4 cents
per month toward CEC operations. Federal money for specific
energy efficiency programs supplements the CEC budget. These
funds are segregated in the state treasury as the Energy
Resources Program Account. Additionally, the CEC manages public
goods charge monies collected by the investor-owned utilities
for renewable energy, research, research and development, and
other federal and state funds for specific programs.
COMMENTS
1. Author's Purpose . The author intends to improve
communication between the CEC and the Legislature and
facilitate oversight of the CEC's programs.
2. Prior Legislation . SB 1467 (Padilla, 2010) vetoed.
POSITIONS
Sponsor:
Author
Support:
None on file
Oppose:
None on file
Kellie Smith
SB 870 Analysis
Hearing Date: May 3, 2011