Energy: low-income energy efficiency programs.

(1) Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish programs to assist low-income electricity and gas customers. Existing law requires the commission, not less often than every 3rd year, to conduct an assessment of the needs of low-income electricity and gas ratepayers. Existing law requires the assessment to evaluate low-income program implementation and the effectiveness of weatherization services and energy efficiency measures in low-income households. Existing law requires the assessment to consider whether existing programs adequately address low-income electricity and gas customers' energy expenditures, hardships, language needs, and economic burdens. This bill would require the commission to conduct a new assessment not less often than every 5th year, instead of every 3rd year. The bill would require the assessment to additionally evaluate the impacts of low-income programs on low-income households and consider whether available technologies, in combination with existing programs, adequately address those low-income electricity and gas customers' concerns. The bill would require the assessment to measure the overall participation rates of low-income electricity and gas customers in existing low-income energy assistance programs for which they are eligible. This bill would require the commission to consider whether the eligibility requirements for low-income programs should be changed to better serve eligible low-income populations and to maximize the effectiveness of moneys spent through those programs. (2) Existing law requires an electrical or gas corporation to perform home weatherization services for low-income customers if the commission determines that a significant need for those services exists in the corporation's service territory. For these purposes, existing law authorizes weatherization to include, where feasible, specified measures for a dwelling unit and other building conservation measures, energy management technology, energy-efficient appliances, and energy education programs, as specified. This bill would require, to the extent it reduces hardships, and is feasible and cost effective, that those measures reflect the most current and relevant available knowledge and technologies, where applicable. The bill would also require the commission to ensure that its proceeding schedule does not limit an electrical or gas corporation's ability to provide those measures, as applicable. (3) Because the bill would require the commission to impose new requirements on electrical and gas corporations and a violation of any part of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.