Section 2864 Of Article 2. Solar Water Heating Systems From California Public Utilities Code >> Division 1. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 9. >> Article 2.
2864
. (a) The commission, in consultation with the Energy
Commission and interested members of the public, shall establish
eligibility criteria for solar water heating systems receiving gas
customer funded incentives pursuant to this article. The criteria
should specify and include all of the following:
(1) Design, installation, and energy output or displacement
standards. To be eligible for rebate funding, a residential solar
water heating system shall be certified by an accredited listing
agency in accordance with standards adopted by the commission. Solar
collectors used in systems for multifamily residential, commercial,
government, nonprofit, educational, or industrial water heating shall
be certified by an accredited listing agency in accordance with
standards adopted by the commission. Energy output of collectors and
systems shall be determined in accordance with procedures set forth
by the listing agency, and shall be based on testing results from
accredited testing laboratories.
(2) Require that solar water heating system components are new and
unused, and have not previously been placed in service in any other
location or for any other application.
(3) Require that solar water heating collectors have a warranty of
not less than 10 years to protect against defects and undue
degradation.
(4) Require that solar water heating systems are in buildings or
facilities connected to a natural gas utility's distribution system
within the state.
(5) Require that solar water heating systems have meters or other
kWhth measuring devices in place to monitor and measure the system's
performance and the quantity of energy generated or displaced by the
system. The criteria shall require meters for systems with a capacity
for displacing over 30 kWth. The criteria may require meters for
systems with a capacity of 30 kWth or smaller.
(6) Require that solar water heating systems are installed in
conformity with the manufacturer's specifications and all applicable
codes and standards.
(b) Gas customer funded incentives shall not be made for a solar
water heating system that does not meet the eligibility criteria.
(c) The commission may adopt consensus solar standards applicable
to products or systems as developed by accredited standards
developers.