Energy data transparency.

Existing law requires each utility to maintain records of the energy usage data of all buildings to which it provides service for at least the most recent 12 complete calendar months and, upon the request and written authorization or secure electronic authorization of the owner, owner's agent, or operator of a covered building, to deliver or otherwise provide aggregated energy usage data for a covered building to the owner, owner's agent, building operator, or to the owner's account in the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Existing law defines a "covered building" to be a building with certain numbers and types of utility accounts. This bill would additionally require an electrical, natural gas, steam, or fuel oil utility to provide to the owner, owner's agent, or operator of a property with 2 or more buildings located on a single parcel or adjacent parcels, with same owner of record and with 5 or more active utility accounts, in aggregate, upon request, aggregate energy usage data for those buildings. Because this bill would impose additional duties on local publicly owned electric utilities, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law prohibits an electrical corporation or a gas corporation from sharing, disclosing, or otherwise making accessible to a 3rd party a customer's electrical or gas consumption data with certain exceptions. One of these exceptions is when the customer consents. This bill would authorize the verification of customer consent through an electronic signature authorization process, and would specify the types of data eligible for release. 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.