Energy: renewable energy resources and energy improvements.

Under the Public Utilities Act, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires the PUC, until January 1, 2012, to require Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison to identify a separate electrical rate component to fund programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits. This rate component is a nonbypassable element of local distribution and collected on the basis of usage. Existing PUC resolutions refer to the nonbypassable rate component as a "public goods charge." The public goods charge moneys are collected to support cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities, public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets, and renewable energy resources. The moneys collected by the public goods charge for renewable energy are required to be transferred to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) , for deposit in the Renewable Resource Trust Fund, for use for the renewable energy resources program. Some of the money in the fund, and in the accounts in the fund, is continuously appropriated to the Energy Commission for specified purposes related to renewable energy resources. The moneys collected by the public goods charge for public interest research and development are required to be transferred to the Energy Commission, for deposit in the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Fund, for use for specified purposes, including the public interest energy research, demonstration, and development program. This bill would authorize, until January 1, 2012, the use of those revenues generated from the public goods charge for energy improvements in existing buildings built prior to July 1, 1978, thereby making an appropriation.