On or before November 1, 1978, the commission shall develop and adopt, in cooperation with affected industry and consumer representatives, and after one or more public hearings, regulations governing solar devices. The regulations shall be designed to encourage the development and use of solar energy and to provide maximum information to the public concerning solar devices. The regulations may include, but need not be limited to, any or all of the following:
(a) Standards for testing, inspection, certification, sizing, and installation of solar devices.
(b) Provisions for the enforcement of the standards. Such provisions may include any or all of the following:
(1) Procedures for the accreditation by the commission of laboratories to test and certify solar devices.
(2) Requirements for onsite inspection of solar devices, including specifying methods for inspection, to determine compliance or noncompliance with the standards.
(3) Requirements for submission to the commission of any data resulting from the testing and inspection of solar devices.
(4) Prohibitions on the sale of solar devices which do not meet minimum requirements for safety and durability as established by the commission.
(5) Dissemination of the results of the testing, inspection, and certification program to the public.
(c) In adopting the regulations, the commission shall give due consideration to their effect on the cost of purchasing, installing, operating and maintaining solar devices. The commission shall reassess the regulations as often as it deems necessary, based upon the value of the regulations in terms of benefits and disadvantages to the widespread adoption of solar energy systems and the need to encourage creativity and innovative adaptations of solar energy. The commission may amend or repeal these regulations based on such reassessment.
(d) Under no circumstances may the commission preclude any person from developing, installing, or operating a solar device on his or her own property.
(e) Any violation of any regulation adopted by the commission pursuant to this section may be enjoined in the same manner as is prescribed in Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 25900) of this division for enjoining a violation of this division.
(Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1081.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018