Energy efficiency programs: discontinuance of administration.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide details on how the commission will determine cost-effectiveness or reliability.

Stopping Energy Efficiency Programs

The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to review and approve applications from electrical or gas companies to stop running energy efficiency programs if those programs are not cost-effective, reliable, or meeting resource needs.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider and approve an application from electricity or natural gas corporations within 180 days of receiving it.
• Allows these corporations to apply to discontinue managing energy efficiency programs if they are not cost-effective, reliable, or failing to meet resource needs as per integrated resources planning frameworks for electrical corporations.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public Utilities Commission
• Electricity and natural gas companies

Terms To Know

cost-effective

saving money or providing good value for the cost involved.

Public Utilities Commission

a government agency that oversees and regulates public utilities like electricity and gas companies.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what happens to people who benefit from these programs if they are stopped.
• The bill does not explain how the Public Utilities Commission will decide if a program is cost-effective or reliable.
• It does not address potential costs for local agencies and school districts.

Official Summary Text

SB 1219, as introduced, Strickland.
Energy efficiency programs: discontinuance of administration.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Under existing law, the commission administers, or otherwise oversees, various public purpose programs, including energy efficiency and conservation programs, cost-effective energy efficiency programs, the Family Electric Rate Assistance program, the California Alternate Rates for Energy program, rate assistance programs for eligible food banks, and home insulation financial assistance programs. Under existing law, those programs are generally funded through a charge on electrical service, which is collected through customer rates.
This bill would require the commission, no later than 180 days after filing, to consider and approve an electrical or gas corporation’s application to discontinue
administration of an energy efficiency program or an energy efficiency portfolio because the program is not cost effective, not reliable, or, in the case of an electrical corporation, because the program is not being used to meet unmet resource needs in its integrated resources planning framework, as provided. Because a violation of a commission order implementing this provision would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF