Section 2854 Of Article 1. Solar Energy Systems From California Public Utilities Code >> Division 1. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 9. >> Article 1.
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. (a) In order to further the state goal of encouraging the
installation of 3,000 megawatts of photovoltaic solar energy in
California within 10 years, the governing body of a local publicly
owned electric utility that sells electricity at retail, shall adopt,
implement, and finance a solar initiative program, funded in
accordance with subdivision (b), for the purpose of investing in, and
encouraging the increased installation of, residential and
commercial solar energy systems.
(b) On or before January 1, 2008, a local publicly owned electric
utility shall offer monetary incentives for the installation of solar
energy systems of at least two dollars and eighty cents ($2.80) per
installed watt, or for the electricity produced by the solar energy
system, measured in kilowatthours, as determined by the governing
board of a local publicly owned electric utility, for photovoltaic
solar energy systems. The incentive level shall decline each year
thereafter at a rate of no less than an average of 7 percent per
year.
(c) A local publicly owned electric utility shall initiate a
public proceeding to fund a solar energy program to adequately
support the goal of installing 3,000 megawatts of photovoltaic solar
energy in California. The proceeding shall determine what additional
funding, if any, is necessary to provide the incentives pursuant to
subdivision (b). The public proceeding shall be completed and the
comprehensive solar energy program established by January 1, 2008.
(d) The solar energy program of a local publicly owned electric
utility shall be consistent with all of the following:
(1) That a solar energy system receiving monetary incentives
comply with the eligibility criteria, design, installation, and
electrical output standards or incentives established by the State
Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission pursuant to
Section 25782 of the Public Resources Code.
(2) That solar energy systems receiving monetary incentives are
intended primarily to offset part or all of the consumer's own
electricity demand.
(3) That all components in the solar energy system are new and
unused, and have not previously been placed in service in any other
location or for any other application.
(4) That the solar energy system has a warranty of not less than
10 years to protect against defects and undue degradation of
electrical generation output.
(5) That the solar energy system be located on the same premises
of the end-use consumer where the consumer's own electricity demand
is located.
(6) That the solar energy system be connected to the electric
utility's electrical distribution system within the state.
(7) That the solar energy system has meters or other devices in
place to monitor and measure the system's performance and the
quantity of electricity generated by the system.
(8) That the solar energy system be installed in conformance with
the manufacturer's specifications and in compliance with all
applicable electrical and building code standards.
(e) In establishing the program required by this section, no
moneys shall be diverted from any existing programs for low-income
ratepayers, or from cost-effective energy efficiency or demand
response programs.
(f) The statewide expenditures for solar programs adopted,
implemented, and financed by local publicly owned electric utilities
shall be seven hundred eighty-four million dollars ($784,000,000).
The expenditure level for each local publicly owned electric utility
shall be based on that utility's percentage of the total statewide
load served by all local publicly owned electric utilities.
Expenditures by a local publicly owned electric utility may be less
than the utility's cap amount, provided that funding is adequate to
provide the incentives required by subdivisions (a) and (b).