Solar energy and energy efficiency programs.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. A decision of the PUC adopted the California Solar Initiative. Existing law requires the PUC to undertake certain steps in implementing the California Solar Initiative. Existing law establishes a surcharge on all natural gas consumed in the state and upon electricity distributed by the state's three largest electrical corporations, to fund certain low-income assistance programs, cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities, and public interest research and development. This bill would require the PUC, by July 1, 2010, to develop and implement a strategy to expand the participation of multiunit residential and commercial rental properties in utility energy efficiency and solar energy programs and to prepare and submit a report on the program to the Legislature by that date. The bill would require the PUC to ensure that the strategy implemented does not result in any additional ratepayer surcharges, is funded through existing programs or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and is cost effective for utility customers. The bill would require the PUC to consider, in developing the strategy, whether synergies exist between its energy efficiency programs and the solar energy programs of the California Solar Initiative, that, in the determination of the PUC, can make energy efficiency and solar investments cost effective for utility customers in multiunit commercial and residential rental properties. The bill would require the PUC, in implementing the California Solar Initiative, to ensure that solar energy system installers are informed that if the solar energy system is to be installed on a manufactured home, that the installation is required to comply with certain statutory and regulatory requirements pertaining to the alteration of manufactured housing. Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) , in consultation with the PUC, local publicly owned electric utilities, and interested members of the public, to establish and thereafter revise eligibility criteria for solar energy systems and to establish conditions for ratepayer funded incentives that are applicable to the California Solar Initiative. This bill would require the Energy Commission to ensure that solar energy system installers are informed that, if the solar energy system is to be installed on a manufactured home, the installation is required to comply with certain statutory and regulatory requirements pertaining to the alteration of manufactured housing.