Energy efficiency standards.

(1) Existing law establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and vests with the commission jurisdiction over specified matters related to energy. Existing law requires the Attorney General, upon the request of the commission, to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin violations of law that is within the subject matter of the commission. Existing law requires the commission to prescribe, by regulation, appliance efficiency standards. This bill would authorize the commission to establish an administrative enforcement process to enforce the above standards. The bill would provide for the assessment of civil penalties by the courts or administrative civil penalties by the commission for a violation of the above standards. The bill would require the penalties collected to be deposited in the Appliance Efficiency Enforcement Subaccount, which this bill would establish in the Energy Resources Program Account, and would authorize the commission to expend the moneys in the subaccount, upon appropriation by the Legislature, as specified. The bill would require the court, upon granting of relief for a violation of the above standards, to award the commission the reasonable costs incurred by the commission in investigating and prosecuting the action. The bill would prohibit the commission from initiating an administrative enforcement process pursuant to those regulations under specified circumstances and until certain events have taken place. (2) Existing law provides that it is the policy of this state and the intent of the Legislature that the commission administer cost-effective energy efficiency programs authorized pursuant to existing statutory authority. Existing law provides for the regulation of public utilities under the Public Utilities Act. A violation of the Public Utilities Act is a crime. This bill would prohibit a public utility from issuing rebates or incentives for energy efficiency improvements unless the recipient of the rebate or incentive certifies that the improvement or installation has complied with applicable permitting requirements and licensing requirements, if applicable. Because a violation of this provision would be a crime under the Public Utilities Act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) 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.