Energy: solar energy and energy storage systems.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Decisions of the PUC adopted the California Solar Initiative, administered by the state's 3 largest electrical corporations and subject to the PUC's supervision. Existing law requires the PUC to ensure that not less than 10% of the funds for the California Solar Initiative are utilized for the installation of solar energy systems on low-income residential housing. Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to develop criteria for solar energy systems that receive ratepayer-funded incentives under the California Solar Initiative. This bill would authorize the Energy Commission, in consultation with specified entities, to establish minimum requirements and develop rating standards for the performance and safety of a solar energy system that is not receiving ratepayer funded incentives and that is interconnected to the electrical distribution system. This bill would authorize the Energy Commission, in consultation with specified entities, to establish minimum requirements and develop rating standards for the performance and safety of a battery storage unit or system intended to provide storage for energy generated by a solar energy system that is interconnected to the electrical distribution system. The bill would authorize manufacturers of battery storage units or systems to request the Energy Commission to determine that a unit or system meets those requirements and standards. The bill would require the Energy Commission, upon a determination that a battery storage unit or system meets those requirements and standards to place that unit or system on a list of battery storage units or systems that meet the requirements and standards. The bill would require the Energy Commission to continuously update the list and make the list publicly available on its internet website. The bill would authorize the Energy Commission to charge and collect a reasonable fee from manufacturers making such requests to cover its costs for this program. The bill would require the collected fees to be deposited in the Energy Commission Equipment List Subaccount, which would be established by the bill. The bill would continuously appropriate the moneys in the subaccount to the Energy Commission to pay those costs.