Chapter 6. Home Insulation Assistance And Financing of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 1. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 6.

As used in this chapter, the term "electrical corporation" shall have the same meaning as prescribed in Section 218, and the term "gas corporation" shall have the same meaning as prescribed in Section 222.

The commission shall permit any electrical or gas corporation to institute a home insulation assistance and financing program for its residential customers in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The commission shall develop and adopt, by regulation or order, such requirements as it finds are necessary or desirable to implement the provisions of this chapter.

A home insulation assistance and financing program shall meet the requirements specified in Sections 2784 to 2786, inclusive, and such other requirements as the commission may impose.

A customer of a participating electrical or gas corporation who is the owner or mortgagor of real property or tenant of such property with a written consent of the owner may apply to the corporation for home insulation assistance and financing. To qualify for financing, such customer must meet the credit criteria as may reasonably be established by the corporation as approved by the commission.

Upon approval of an application, the corporation shall arrange for a licensed contractor to perform the necessary work. Upon approval of an estimate by the customer and the corporation, the corporation shall direct the work to commence. All attic insulation installations shall meet or exceed requirements applicable at the time of installation or as may be established for existing residential structures, except where such compliance is impossible or impractical in an existing structure and an alternative method or procedure providing satisfactory results is available. The corporation shall arrange for inspection of a representative portion of the work performed pursuant to this chapter. As used in this section, the term "attic" means any air spaces between the ceiling and roof of a residential dwelling which are accessible for the purpose of the installation of insulation.

An electrical or gas corporation shall provide for payment by a customer for whom home insulation has been installed pursuant to this chapter through such periodic billing procedures as may be established by the corporation. The corporation may require an initial payment toward the insulation services of not greater than 20 percent with the balance due payable in equal installments during a period of 36 months following completion of the work, or at such greater rate of repayment as the customer may elect. Finance charges shall not be greater than the maximum allowable finance charges permitted for retail installment contracts. Acceptable credit cards may be utilized in lieu of these financial arrangements.

As an alternative to the provisions of Section 2786, an electrical or gas corporation may conclude financial arrangements with one or more lending institutions in this state engaged in making home improvement loans to provide loans to customers for purposes of home insulation pursuant to this chapter. The corporation may provide for payment of the loan balance by the customer through the corporation's regular bill for public utility services. Any such financial arrangements shall include all of the following provisions:
  (a) The amount financed shall be payable in equal installments during a period of 36 months following completion of the work, or at such greater rate of repayment as the customer may elect.
  (b) Provision that the corporation shall not be liable to the lending institution in the event of the customer's default.
  (c) Provision that approval of the customer's credit shall be at the option of the lending institution. Notwithstanding any language contained in this section, acceptable credit cards may be utilized in lieu of the above provisions.

The commission shall allow for purposes of setting the rates of any electrical or gas corporation participating in a home insulation assistance and financing program all expenses which the commission finds are reasonably related to the implementation and administration of the program, including commercial advertising. The commission may disapprove any such advertising or promotion which the commission finds is not reasonably designed to promote the success of the home insulation financial assistance program.

Notwithstanding any provision of this part, the commission may permit or require any electrical or gas corporation subject to its jurisdiction to institute energy conservation programs for its customers, including related financial assistance at terms found reasonable by the commission. Such terms may include any provision of this chapter. This chapter shall not apply to solar water heating systems or active solar space conditioning systems. The commission shall initiate appropriate actions to secure exemptions or waivers which may be required under federal law. Nothing in this chapter shall expand, limit, or contract the general powers of the commission contained in this part or the authority of the commission regarding the terms and conditions of service by a utility. Any work requiring a license pursuant to Chapter 9 of Division 3 (commencing with Section 7000) of the Business and Professions Code which is performed pursuant to such an energy conservation program shall be performed by a licensed contractor.

(a) The commission shall require an electrical or gas corporation to perform home weatherization services for low-income customers, as determined by the commission under Section 739, if the commission determines that a significant need for those services exists in the corporation's service territory, taking into consideration both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the policy of reducing the hardships facing low-income households.
  (b) (1) For purposes of this section, "weatherization" may include, where feasible, any of the following measures for any dwelling unit:
  (A) Attic insulation.
  (B) Caulking.
  (C) Weatherstripping.
  (D) Low flow showerhead.
  (E) Waterheater blanket.
  (F) Door and building envelope repairs that reduce air infiltration.
  (2) The commission shall direct any electrical or gas corporation to provide as many of these measures as are feasible for each eligible low-income dwelling unit.
  (c) "Weatherization" may also include other building conservation measures, energy management technology, energy-efficient appliances, and energy education programs determined by the commission to be feasible, taking into consideration for all measures both the cost-effectiveness of the measures as a whole and the policy of reducing energy-related hardships facing low-income households.
  (d) Weatherization programs shall use the needs assessment pursuant to Section 382.1 to maximize efficiency of delivery.
  (e) For purposes of this section, "energy management technology" may include a product, service, or software that allows a customer to better understand and manage electricity or gas use in the customer' s home.