Local Government Renewable Energy Self-Generation Program.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law, the Local Government Renewable Energy Self-Generation Program, authorizes a local government to receive a bill credit, as specified, to be applied to a designated benefiting account for electricity exported to the electrical grid by an eligible renewable generating facility, as defined, and requires the commission to approve a rate tariff for the benefiting account. Under existing law, an electrical corporation is obligated to provide a bill credit to a benefiting account designated by a local government only until that electrical corporation reaches its proportionate share of 250 megawatts of the combined statewide cumulative rated generating capacity of all eligible renewable generating facilities within the service territories of the state's 3 largest electrical corporations. This bill would increase the statewide 250-megawatts limitation to 300 megawatts. The bill would authorize the commission to additionally increase the statewide limitation, as specified, to up to 500 megawatts. The bill would require the commission to conduct an evaluation of the Local Government Renewable Energy Self-Generation Program, as specified, and to submit a report of the evaluation to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2024. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act is a crime. Because the above provision would be codified in the act, a violation of which would be 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.