Home weatherization services for low-income customers.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law requires each electrical or gas corporation to perform home weatherization services for low-income customers, as determined by the commission, if the commission determines that a significant need for those services exists in the corporation's service territory, as specified. These services are generally known as the Energy Savings Assistance Program and are administered by each electrical or gas corporation. From January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022, inclusive, this bill would define "low-income customers" for purposes of the program as customers with annual household incomes that are no greater than 200% of the federal poverty guideline levels. On and after July 1, 2022, the bill would define "low-income customers" for those purposes as persons and families whose household income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, and would prohibit the commission from increasing the authorized budgets for the program based on that expansion of income eligibility. Under existing law, a violation of any commission order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement is a crime. Because a violation of any commission action implementing this bill's requirements 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.