Plain English Breakdown
The official summary states no reimbursement is required for a specified reason but does not explicitly state what that reason is.
Changes to Customer Renewable Energy Subscription Programs
AB-1813 updates rules for community renewable energy programs by setting size limits, adding billing credits based on avoided costs if generators are load modifying resources, and requiring new reports from the Public Utilities Commission.
What This Bill Does
- Revises program requirements to promote low-income customer participation at levels similar to certain customers who generate their own power.
- Provides bill credits to subscribers based on avoided costs if a community renewable energy generator is determined to be a load modifying resource.
- Limits each participating generator to no more than 5 megawatts of generation capacity and 5 megawatts of energy storage.
- Sets a total program cap at 4 gigawatts or ends new enrollments after 7 years, whichever happens first.
- Requires the Energy Commission to evaluate load modifying potential by December 1, 2027, so the PUC can create rules for classification.
- Updates reporting requirements to track participating generators and customers until January 1, 2034.
Who It Names or Affects
- The Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
- Electrical corporations
- Community renewable energy generators
- Low-income electricity subscribers
Terms To Know
- Load modifying resource
- A generator that meets specific attributes identified by the Energy Commission to help balance power output.
- Bill credits
- Reductions on a customer's electricity bill based on avoided costs from renewable energy generation.
- Megawatts (MW)
- A unit of measurement for the power capacity or storage size of an electrical generator.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not specify how much money will be spent to implement these changes.
- Final rules depend on a future evaluation by the Energy Commission due in December 2027.
- The text states no state reimbursement is required for local agencies but only notes it is 'for a specified reason' without detailing that reason.