(a) Each local publicly owned electric utility shall establish a nonbypassable, usage based charge on local distribution service of not less than the lowest expenditure level of the three largest electrical corporations in California on a percent of revenue basis, calculated from each utility’s total revenue requirement for the year ended December 31, 1994, and each utility’s total annual expenditure under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 381 and Section 382, to fund investments by the utility and other parties in any or all of the following:
(1) Cost-effective demand-side management services to promote energy efficiency and energy conservation.
(2) New investment in renewable energy resources and technologies consistent with existing statutes and regulations which promote those resources and technologies.
(3) Research, development and demonstration programs for the public interest to advance science or technology which is not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets.
(4) Services provided for low-income electricity customers, including, but not limited to, energy efficiency services, education, weatherization, and rate discounts.
(b) Each local publicly owned electric utility that has not implemented programs for low-income electricity customers including targeted energy efficiency services and rate discounts based upon the income level of the customer, or completed an assessment of need for those programs, on or before December 31, 2000, shall perform a needs assessment for the programs described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) and shall hold one or more public meetings, after notice, to review the findings of the needs assessment. Following the public meetings, the governing body of the local publicly owned electric utility shall determine the amount of the total funds collected pursuant to this section to be allocated to low-income programs, including, but not limited to, targeted energy efficiency services, education, weatherization, and rate discounts. In making its decision on the need for the programs, the governing body shall consider all of the following:
(1) The number and income level of low-income customers that reside in the service area of the utility.
(2) The availability of home weatherization services to low-income customers pursuant to Section 2790.
(3) The availability of in-home energy efficiency education in the utility’s service area.
(4) Other factors that may indicate a need for low-income services.
(c) Following a determination pursuant to subdivision (b) that low-income services are needed, the local publicly owned utility shall promptly implement or expand those programs. The local publicly owned electric utility shall work with existing weatherization providers to implement energy efficiency, education, and weatherization programs.
(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1041, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018