Energy: energy audit.

(1) Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) , in its biennial energy conservation report, to report on the progress made to implement a statewide home energy rating program. This bill would require the Energy Commission, by March 1, 2010, to establish a regulatory proceeding to develop a comprehensive program to achieve greater energy savings in the state's existing residential and nonresidential building stock. In developing the requirements, the Energy Commission would be required to coordinate with specified entities and to consider certain factors. Before adopting the requirements, the Energy Commission would be required to consult with specified entities and to hold at least 3 public hearings. The Energy Commission would be required to periodically update the comprehensive program to improve or refine the program requirements. The Energy Commission would be required to report on the status of the program in the integrated energy policy report. (2) Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to order certain electrical corporations to collect and spend certain funds for public benefit programs, including cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation programs. The bill would require the PUC, by March 1, 2010, to open a new proceeding or amend an existing proceeding to investigate the ability of electrical corporations and gas corporations to provide energy efficiency financing options to their customers to implement the comprehensive program that would be developed by the Energy Commission pursuant to this act. The bill would also require the PUC to include an assessment of each electrical corporation's and each gas corporation's implementation of that program in a specified triennial report required under existing law. (3) Existing law requires a local publicly owned electric utility to establish annual targets for energy efficiency savings and demand reduction for the next 10-year period and to provide to its customers and to the Energy Commission an annual report on its energy efficiency and demand reduction programs. This bill would require a local publicly owned electric utility, by a specified date, to be responsible for implementing an energy efficiency program that recognizes the Legislature's intent to encourage energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions in existing residential and nonresidential buildings. A local publicly owned electric utility would be required to include in the above-referenced report its status in implementing the program. Because a local publicly owned utility would be responsible for the implementation of an energy efficiency program and the provision of additional information in an annual report to its customers and the Energy Commission on the implementation of the program, this bill would increase the level of service provided by a local agency, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.