BILL NUMBER: AB 2234 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 18, 2012
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Hill
( Coauthors: Assembly Members
Gordon, Wieckowski, and Williams
)
( Coauthor: Senator Wolk
)
FEBRUARY 24, 2012
An act to amend Sections 2827 and 2827.8 of the Public Utilities
Code, relating to electricity.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2234, as amended, Hill. Electricity net energy metering.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations.
Existing law, relative to private energy producers, requires every
electric utility, as defined, to make available to an eligible
customer-generator, as defined, a standard contract or tariff for net
energy metering on a first-come-first-served basis until the time
that the total rated generating capacity used by eligible
customer-generators exceeds 5% of the electric utility's aggregate
customer peak demand. The
This bill would specify that an electric utility is also not
obligated to provide net energy metering to additional eligible
customer-generators that are public agencies whose facilities have a
total capacity of more than one megawatt if the collective state-wide
capacity of these customers exceeds 100 megawatts.
The existing definition of an eligible
customer-generator requires that the generator be a residential,
small commercial, commercial, industrial, or agricultural customer of
the electric utility, that the generating facility use a renewable
source listed in the definition of a renewable electricity generation
facility that is used for purposes of the Renewable Energy Resources
Program administered by the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission, that the generating facility have a total
capacity of not more than one megawatt, and that it meet certain
locational and operational requirements. Existing law authorizes a
local publicly owned electric utility to elect to provide co-energy
metering, as defined, rather than net energy metering.
This bill would include in the definition of an eligible
customer-generator, a public agency customer, as defined, meeting the
existing requirements applicable to residential, small commercial,
commercial, industrial, or agricultural customers, except that that
generation facility have a total capacity of not more than 5
2 megawatts.
This bill would also require an eligible customer-generator that
is a public agency whose facility or facilities has a total capacity
of more than one megawatt to pay for an interconnection study
associated with that customer, as well as any distribution grid
upgrades found to be necessary by that study.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any
order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the
commission is a crime.
Because an order of the commission would be required to implement
certain of the bill's requirements and a violation of an order or
decision of the commission implementing its requirements would be a
crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by
creating a new crime. Because the bill would expand the net energy
metering or co-energy meeting requirements for local publicly owned
electric utilities, the 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 specified reasons.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 2827 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
2827. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that a program to
provide net energy metering combined with net surplus compensation,
co-energy metering, and wind energy co-metering for eligible
customer-generators is one way to encourage substantial private
investment in renewable energy resources, stimulate in-state economic
growth, reduce demand for electricity during peak consumption
periods, help stabilize California's energy supply infrastructure,
enhance the continued diversification of California's energy resource
mix, reduce interconnection and administrative costs for electricity
suppliers, and encourage conservation and efficiency.
(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(1) "Co-energy metering" means a program that is the same in all
other respects as a net energy metering program, except that the
local publicly owned electric utility has elected to apply a
generation-to-generation energy and time-of-use credit formula as
provided in subdivision (i).
(2) "Electrical cooperative" means an electrical cooperative as
defined in Section 2776.
(3) "Electric utility" means an electrical corporation, a local
publicly owned electric utility, or an electrical cooperative, or any
other entity, except an electric service provider, that offers
electrical service. This section shall not apply to a local publicly
owned electric utility that serves more than 750,000 customers and
that also conveys water to its customers.
(4) (A) "Eligible customer-generator" means a residential
customer, small commercial customer as defined in subdivision (h) of
Section 331, or commercial, industrial, or agricultural customer of
an electric utility, who uses a renewable electrical generation
facility, or a combination of those facilities, with a total capacity
of not more than one megawatt, that is located on the customer's
owned, leased, or rented premises, and is interconnected and operates
in parallel with the electric grid, and is intended primarily to
offset part or all of the customer's own electrical requirements.
(B) "Eligible customer-generator" additionally includes a public
agency customer of an electric utility that uses a renewable
electrical generation facility, or a combination of those facilities,
with a total capacity of not more than five
two megawatts, that is located on premises that are owned,
leased, or rented by the public agency, and which is interconnected
and operates in parallel with the electric grid. For purposes of this
subparagraph, "public agency" means the state, any agency, board,
commission, council, department, or other entity of state government,
the California Community Colleges, and each district, campus,
branch, and function thereof, the California State University, and
each campus, branch, and function thereof, the University of
California, and each campus, branch, and function thereof, any
county, any city, any city and county, any regional agency, any
district or special district, any school district, and each campus,
branch, and function thereof, and any other political subdivision or
corporation of the state.
(5) "Renewable electrical generation facility" means a facility
that generates electricity from a renewable source listed in
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 25741 of the Public
Resources Code. A small hydroelectric generation facility is not an
eligible renewable electrical generation facility if it will cause an
adverse impact on instream beneficial uses or cause a change in the
volume or timing of streamflow.
(6) "Net energy metering" means measuring the difference between
the electricity supplied through the electric grid and the
electricity generated by an eligible customer-generator and fed back
to the electric grid over a 12-month period as described in
subdivisions (c) and (h).
(7) "Net surplus customer-generator" means an eligible
customer-generator that generates more electricity during a 12-month
period than is supplied by the electric utility to the eligible
customer-generator during the same 12-month period.
(8) "Net surplus electricity" means all electricity generated by
an eligible customer-generator measured in kilowatthours over a
12-month period that exceeds the amount of electricity consumed by
that eligible customer-generator.
(9) "Net surplus electricity compensation" means a per
kilowatthour rate offered by the electric utility to the net surplus
customer-generator for net surplus electricity that is set by the
ratemaking authority pursuant to subdivision (h).
(10) "Ratemaking authority" means, for an electrical corporation,
the commission, for an electrical cooperative, its ratesetting body
selected by its shareholders or members, and for a local publicly
owned electric utility, the local elected body responsible for
setting the rates of the local publicly owned utility.
(11) "Wind energy co-metering" means any wind energy project
greater than 50 kilowatts, but not exceeding the megawatt limitations
for eligible customer-generators specified in paragraph (4), where
the difference between the electricity supplied through the electric
grid and the electricity generated by an eligible customer-generator
and fed back to the electric grid over a 12-month period is as
described in subdivision (h). Wind energy co-metering shall be
accomplished pursuant to Section 2827.8.
(c) (1) Every electric utility shall develop a standard contract
or tariff providing for net energy metering, and shall make this
standard contract or tariff available to eligible
customer-generators, upon request, on a first-come-first-served basis
until the time that the total rated generating capacity used by
eligible customer-generators exceeds 5 percent of the electric
utility's aggregate customer peak demand. In addition to the 5
percent program limitation that is applicable to all eligibile
customer-generators, an electric utility is not required to make the
tariff available to an eligible customer-generator that is a public
agency whose facility has a generating capacity of more
than one megawatt if the total statewide collective capacity of those
facilities is 100 megawatts or more. Net energy metering shall
be accomplished using a single meter capable of registering the flow
of electricity in two directions. An additional meter or meters to
monitor the flow of electricity in each direction may be installed
with the consent of the eligible customer-generator, at the expense
of the electric utility, and the additional metering shall be used
only to provide the information necessary to accurately bill or
credit the eligible customer-generator pursuant to subdivision (h),
or to collect generating system performance information for research
purposes relative to a renewable electrical generation facility. If
the existing electrical meter of an eligible customer-generator is
not capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two directions,
the eligible customer-generator shall be responsible for all expenses
involved in purchasing and installing a meter that is able to
measure electricity flow in two directions. If an additional meter or
meters are installed, the net energy metering calculation shall
yield a result identical to that of a single meter. An eligible
customer-generator that is receiving service other than through the
standard contract or tariff may elect to receive service through the
standard contract or tariff until the electric utility reaches the
generation limit set forth in this paragraph. Once the generation
limit is reached, only eligible customer-generators that had
previously elected to receive service pursuant to the standard
contract or tariff have a right to continue to receive service
pursuant to the standard contract or tariff. Eligibility for net
energy metering does not limit an eligible customer-generator's
eligibility for any other rebate, incentive, or credit provided by
the electric utility, or pursuant to any governmental program,
including rebates and incentives provided pursuant to the California
Solar Initiative.
(2) An electrical corporation shall include a provision in the net
energy metering contract or tariff requiring that any customer with
an existing electrical generating facility and meter who enters into
a new net energy metering contract shall provide an inspection report
to the electrical corporation, unless the electrical generating
facility and meter have been installed or inspected within the
previous three years. The inspection report shall be prepared by a
California licensed contractor who is not the owner or operator of
the facility and meter. A California licensed electrician shall
perform the inspection of the electrical portion of the facility and
meter.
(3) (A) On an annual basis, every electric utility shall make
available to the ratemaking authority information on the total rated
generating capacity used by eligible customer-generators that are
customers of that provider in the provider's service area and the net
surplus electricity purchased by the electric utility pursuant to
this section.
(B) An electric service provider operating pursuant to Section 394
shall make available to the ratemaking authority the information
required by this paragraph for each eligible customer-generator that
is their customer for each service area of an electrical corporation,
local publicly owned electrical utility, or electrical cooperative,
in which the eligible customer-generator has net energy metering.
(C) The ratemaking authority shall develop a process for making
the information required by this paragraph available to electric
utilities, and for using that information to determine when, pursuant
to paragraphs (1) and (4), an electric utility is not obligated to
provide net energy metering to additional eligible
customer-generators in its service area.
(4) An electric utility is not obligated to provide net energy
metering to additional eligible customer-generators in its service
area when
the combined total peak demand of all electricity used by
eligible customer-generators served by all the electric utilities in
that service area furnishing net energy metering to eligible
customer-generators exceeds 5 percent of the aggregate customer peak
demand of those electric utilities.
(5) An electric utility is not obligated to provide net energy
metering to additional eligible customer-generators that are public
agencies whose facilities have a total capacity of more than one
megawatt if the collective state-wide capacity of these customers
exceeds 100 megawatts.
(6) An eligible customer-generator that is a public agency whose
facility or facilities has a total capacity of more than one megawatt
shall pay for an interconnection study associated with that
customer, as well as any distribution grid upgrades found to be
necessary by that study.
(d) Every electric utility shall make all necessary forms and
contracts for net energy metering and net surplus electricity
compensation service available for download from the Internet.
(e) (1) Every electric utility shall ensure that requests for
establishment of net energy metering and net surplus electricity
compensation are processed in a time period not exceeding that for
similarly situated customers requesting new electric service, but not
to exceed 30 working days from the date it receives a completed
application form for net energy metering service or net surplus
electricity compensation, including a signed interconnection
agreement from an eligible customer-generator and the electric
inspection clearance from the governmental authority having
jurisdiction.
(2) Every electric utility shall ensure that requests for an
interconnection agreement from an eligible customer-generator are
processed in a time period not to exceed 30 working days from the
date it receives a completed application form from the eligible
customer-generator for an interconnection agreement.
(3) If an electric utility is unable to process a request within
the allowable timeframe pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), it shall
notify the eligible customer-generator and the ratemaking authority
of the reason for its inability to process the request and the
expected completion date.
(f) (1) If a customer participates in direct transactions pursuant
to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 365, or Section
365.1, with an electric service provider that does not provide
distribution service for the direct transactions, the electric
utility that provides distribution service for the eligible
customer-generator is not obligated to provide net energy metering or
net surplus electricity compensation to the customer.
(2) If a customer participates in direct transactions pursuant to
paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 365 with an electric
service provider, and the customer is an eligible customer-generator,
the electric utility that provides distribution service for the
direct transactions may recover from the customer's electric service
provider the incremental costs of metering and billing service
related to net energy metering and net surplus electricity
compensation in an amount set by the ratemaking authority.
(g) Except for the time-variant kilowatthour pricing portion of
any tariff adopted by the commission pursuant to paragraph (4) of
subdivision (a) of Section 2851, each net energy metering contract or
tariff shall be identical, with respect to rate structure, all
retail rate components, and any monthly charges, to the contract or
tariff to which the same customer would be assigned if the customer
did not use a renewable electrical generation facility, except that
eligible customer-generators shall not be assessed standby charges on
the electrical generating capacity or the kilowatthour production of
a renewable electrical generation facility. The charges for all
retail rate components for eligible customer-generators shall be
based exclusively on the customer-generator's net kilowatthour
consumption over a 12-month period, without regard to the eligible
customer-generator's choice as to from whom it purchases electricity
that is not self-generated. Any new or additional demand charge,
standby charge, customer charge, minimum monthly charge,
interconnection charge, or any other charge that would increase an
eligible customer-generator's costs beyond those of other customers
who are not eligible customer-generators in the rate class to which
the eligible customer-generator would otherwise be assigned if the
customer did not own, lease, rent, or otherwise operate a renewable
electrical generation facility is contrary to the intent of this
section, and shall not form a part of net energy metering contracts
or tariffs.
(h) For eligible customer-generators, the net energy metering
calculation shall be made by measuring the difference between the
electricity supplied to the eligible customer-generator and the
electricity generated by the eligible customer-generator and fed back
to the electric grid over a 12-month period. The following rules
shall apply to the annualized net metering calculation:
(1) The eligible residential or small commercial
customer-generator, at the end of each 12-month period following the
date of final interconnection of the eligible customer-generator's
system with an electric utility, and at each anniversary date
thereafter shall, be billed for electricity used during that 12-month
period. The electric utility shall determine if the eligible
residential or small commercial customer-generator was a net consumer
or a net surplus customer-generator during that period.
(2) At the end of each 12-month period, where the electricity
supplied during the period by the electric utility exceeds the
electricity generated by the eligible residential or small commercial
customer-generator during that same period, the eligible residential
or small commercial customer-generator is a net electricity consumer
and the electric utility shall be owed compensation for the eligible
customer-generator's net kilowatthour consumption over that 12-month
period. The compensation owed for the eligible residential or small
commercial customer-generator's consumption shall be calculated as
follows:
(A) For all eligible customer-generators taking service under
contracts or tariffs employing "baseline" and "over baseline" rates,
any net monthly consumption of electricity shall be calculated
according to the terms of the contract or tariff to which the same
customer would be assigned to, or be eligible for, if the customer
was not an eligible customer-generator. If those same
customer-generators are net generators over a billing period, the net
kilowatthours generated shall be valued at the same price per
kilowatthour as the electric utility would charge for the baseline
quantity of electricity during that billing period, and if the number
of kilowatthours generated exceeds the baseline quantity, the excess
shall be valued at the same price per kilowatthour as the electric
utility would charge for electricity over the baseline quantity
during that billing period.
(B) For all eligible customer-generators taking service under
contracts or tariffs employing time-of-use rates, any net monthly
consumption of electricity shall be calculated according to the terms
of the contract or tariff to which the same customer would be
assigned, or be eligible for, if the customer was not an eligible
customer-generator. When those same customer-generators are net
generators during any discrete time-of-use period, the net
kilowatthours produced shall be valued at the same price per
kilowatthour as the electric utility would charge for retail
kilowatthour sales during that same time-of-use period. If the
eligible customer-generator's time-of-use electrical meter is unable
to measure the flow of electricity in two directions, paragraph (1)
of subdivision (c) shall apply.
(C) For all eligible residential and small commercial
customer-generators and for each billing period, the net balance of
moneys owed to the electric utility for net consumption of
electricity or credits owed to the eligible customer-generator for
net generation of electricity shall be carried forward as a monetary
value until the end of each 12-month period. For all eligible
commercial, industrial, and agricultural customer-generators, the net
balance of moneys owed shall be paid in accordance with the electric
utility's normal billing cycle, except that if the eligible
commercial, industrial, or agricultural customer-generator is a net
electricity producer over a normal billing cycle, any excess
kilowatthours generated during the billing cycle shall be carried
over to the following billing period as a monetary value, calculated
according to the procedures set forth in this section, and appear as
a credit on the eligible commercial, industrial, or agricultural
customer-generator's account, until the end of the annual period when
paragraph (3) shall apply.
(3) At the end of each 12-month period, where the electricity
generated by the eligible customer-generator during the 12-month
period exceeds the electricity supplied by the electric utility
during that same period, the eligible customer-generator is a net
surplus customer-generator and the electric utility, upon an
affirmative election by the net surplus customer-generator, shall
either (A) provide net surplus electricity compensation for any net
surplus electricity generated during the prior 12-month period, or
(B) allow the net surplus customer-generator to apply the net surplus
electricity as a credit for kilowatthours subsequently supplied by
the electric utility to the net surplus customer-generator. For an
eligible customer-generator that does not affirmatively elect to
receive service pursuant to net surplus electricity compensation, the
electric utility shall retain any excess kilowatthours generated
during the prior 12-month period. The eligible customer-generator not
affirmatively electing to receive service pursuant to net surplus
electricity compensation shall not be owed any compensation for the
net surplus electricity unless the electric utility enters into a
purchase agreement with the eligible customer-generator for those
excess kilowatthours. Every electric utility shall provide notice to
eligible customer-generators that they are eligible to receive net
surplus electricity compensation for net surplus electricity, that
they must elect to receive net surplus electricity compensation, and
that the 12-month period commences when the electric utility receives
the eligible customer-generator's election. For an electric utility
that is an electrical corporation or electrical cooperative, the
commission may adopt requirements for providing notice and the manner
by which eligible customer-generators may elect to receive net
surplus electricity compensation.
(4) (A) The ratemaking authority shall establish a net surplus
electricity compensation valuation to compensate the net surplus
customer-generator for the value of net surplus electricity generated
by the net surplus customer-generator. The commission shall
establish the valuation in a ratemaking proceeding. The ratemaking
authority for a local publicly owned electric utility shall establish
the valuation in a public proceeding. The net surplus electricity
compensation valuation shall be established so as to provide the net
surplus customer-generator just and reasonable compensation for the
value of net surplus electricity, while leaving other ratepayers
unaffected. The ratemaking authority shall determine whether the
compensation will include, where appropriate justification exists,
either or both of the following components:
(i) The value of the electricity itself.
(ii) The value of the renewable attributes of the electricity.
(B) In establishing the rate pursuant to subparagraph (A), the
ratemaking authority shall ensure that the rate does not result in a
shifting of costs between eligible customer-generators and other
bundled service customers.
(5) (A) Upon adoption of the net surplus electricity compensation
rate by the ratemaking authority, any renewable energy credit, as
defined in Section 399.12, for net surplus electricity purchased by
the electric utility shall belong to the electric utility. Any
renewable energy credit associated with electricity generated by the
eligible customer-generator that is utilized by the eligible
customer-generator shall remain the property of the eligible
customer-generator.
(B) Upon adoption of the net surplus electricity compensation rate
by the ratemaking authority, the net surplus electricity purchased
by the electric utility shall count toward the electric utility's
renewables portfolio standard annual procurement targets for the
purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 399.15, or
for a local publicly owned electric utility, the renewables portfolio
standard annual procurement targets established pursuant to Section
387.
(6) The electric utility shall provide every eligible residential
or small commercial customer-generator with net electricity
consumption and net surplus electricity generation information with
each regular bill. That information shall include the current
monetary balance owed the electric utility for net electricity
consumed, or the net surplus electricity generated, since the last
12-month period ended. Notwithstanding this subdivision, an electric
utility shall permit that customer to pay monthly for net energy
consumed.
(7) If an eligible residential or small commercial
customer-generator terminates the customer relationship with the
electric utility, the electric utility shall reconcile the eligible
customer-generator's consumption and production of electricity during
any part of a 12-month period following the last reconciliation,
according to the requirements set forth in this subdivision, except
that those requirements shall apply only to the months since the most
recent 12-month bill.
(8) If an electric service provider or electric utility providing
net energy metering to a residential or small commercial
customer-generator ceases providing that electric service to that
customer during any 12-month period, and the customer-generator
enters into a new net energy metering contract or tariff with a new
electric service provider or electric utility, the 12-month period,
with respect to that new electric service provider or electric
utility, shall commence on the date on which the new electric service
provider or electric utility first supplies electric service to the
customer-generator.
(i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section,
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall apply to an eligible
customer-generator with a capacity of more than 10 kilowatts, but not
exceeding the megawatt limitations for eligible customer-generators
specified in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b), that receives electric
service from a local publicly owned electric utility that has
elected to utilize a co-energy metering program unless the local
publicly owned electric utility chooses to provide service for
eligible customer-generators with a capacity of more than 10
kilowatts in accordance with subdivisions (g) and (h):
(1) The eligible customer-generator shall be required to utilize a
meter, or multiple meters, capable of separately measuring
electricity flow in both directions. All meters shall provide
time-of-use measurements of electricity flow, and the customer shall
take service on a time-of-use rate schedule. If the existing meter of
the eligible customer-generator is not a time-of-use meter or is not
capable of measuring total flow of electricity in both directions,
the eligible customer-generator shall be responsible for all expenses
involved in purchasing and installing a meter that is both
time-of-use and able to measure total electricity flow in both
directions. This subdivision shall not restrict the ability of an
eligible customer-generator to utilize any economic incentives
provided by a governmental agency or an electric utility to reduce
its costs for purchasing and installing a time-of-use meter.
(2) The consumption of electricity from the local publicly owned
electric utility shall result in a cost to the eligible
customer-generator to be priced in accordance with the standard rate
charged to the eligible customer-generator in accordance with the
rate structure to which the customer would be assigned if the
customer did not use a renewable electrical generation facility. The
generation of electricity
provided to the local publicly owned electric utility shall result
in a credit to the eligible customer-generator and shall be priced in
accordance with the generation component, established under the
applicable structure to which the customer would be assigned if the
customer did not use a renewable electrical generation facility.
(3) All costs and credits shall be shown on the eligible
customer-generator's bill for each billing period. In any months in
which the eligible customer-generator has been a net consumer of
electricity calculated on the basis of value determined pursuant to
paragraph (2), the customer-generator shall owe to the local publicly
owned electric utility the balance of electricity costs and credits
during that billing period. In any billing period in which the
eligible customer-generator has been a net producer of electricity
calculated on the basis of value determined pursuant to paragraph
(2), the local publicly owned electric utility shall owe to the
eligible customer-generator the balance of electricity costs and
credits during that billing period. Any net credit to the eligible
customer-generator of electricity costs may be carried forward to
subsequent billing periods, provided that a local publicly owned
electric utility may choose to carry the credit over as a
kilowatthour credit consistent with the provisions of any applicable
contract or tariff, including any differences attributable to the
time of generation of the electricity. At the end of each 12-month
period, the local publicly owned electric utility may reduce any net
credit due to the eligible customer-generator to zero.
(j) A renewable electrical generation facility used by an eligible
customer-generator shall meet all applicable safety and performance
standards established by the National Electrical Code, the Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and accredited testing
laboratories, including Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated and,
where applicable, rules of the commission regarding safety and
reliability. A customer-generator whose renewable electrical
generation facility meets those standards and rules shall not be
required to install additional controls, perform or pay for
additional tests, or purchase additional liability insurance.
(k) If the commission determines that there are cost or revenue
obligations for an electrical corporation that may not be recovered
from customer-generators acting pursuant to this section, those
obligations shall remain within the customer class from which any
shortfall occurred and shall not be shifted to any other customer
class. Net energy metering and co-energy metering customers shall not
be exempt from the public goods charges imposed pursuant to Article
7 (commencing with Section 381), Article 8 (commencing with Section
385), or Article 15 (commencing with Section 399) of Chapter 2.3 of
Part 1.
(l) A net energy metering, co-energy metering, or wind energy
co-metering customer shall reimburse the Department of Water
Resources for all charges that would otherwise be imposed on the
customer by the commission to recover bond-related costs pursuant to
an agreement between the commission and the Department of Water
Resources pursuant to Section 80110 of the Water Code, as well as the
costs of the department equal to the share of the department's
estimated net unavoidable power purchase contract costs attributable
to the customer. The commission shall incorporate the determination
into an existing proceeding before the commission, and shall ensure
that the charges are nonbypassable. Until the commission has made a
determination regarding the nonbypassable charges, net energy
metering, co-energy metering, and wind energy co-metering shall
continue under the same rules, procedures, terms, and conditions as
were applicable on December 31, 2002.
(m) In implementing the requirements of subdivisions (k) and (
l ), an eligible customer-generator shall not be required
to replace its existing meter except as set forth in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (c), nor shall the electric utility require additional
measurement of usage beyond that which is necessary for customers in
the same rate class as the eligible customer-generator.
(n) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Treasurer
incorporate net energy metering, including net surplus electricity
compensation, co-energy metering, and wind energy co-metering
projects undertaken pursuant to this section as sustainable building
methods or distributive energy technologies for purposes of
evaluating low-income housing projects.
SEC. 2. Section 2827.8 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
2827.8. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, the
following provisions apply to an eligible customer-generator
utilizing wind energy co-metering with a capacity of more than 50
kilowatts, but not exceeding the megawatt limitations for eligible
customer-generators specified in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of
Section 2827, unless approved by the electric utility.
(a) The eligible customer-generator shall be required to utilize a
meter, or multiple meters, capable of separately measuring
electricity flow in both directions. All meters shall provide
"time-of-use" measurements of electricity flow, and the customer
shall take service on a time-of-use rate schedule. If the existing
meter of the eligible customer-generator is not a time-of-use meter
or is not capable of measuring total flow of energy in both
directions, the eligible customer-generator is responsible for all
expenses involved in purchasing and installing a meter that is both
time-of-use and able to measure total electricity flow in both
directions. This subdivision shall not restrict the ability of an
eligible customer-generator to utilize any economic incentives
provided by a government agency or the electric utility to reduce its
costs for purchasing and installing a time-of-use meter.
(b) The consumption of electricity from the electric service
provider for wind energy co-metering by an eligible
customer-generator shall be priced in accordance with the standard
rate charged to the eligible customer-generator in accordance with
the rate structure to which the customer would be assigned if the
customer did not use an eligible wind electrical generating facility.
The generation of electricity provided to the electric service
provider shall result in a credit to the eligible customer-generator
and shall be priced in accordance with the generation component,
excluding surcharges to cover the purchase of power by the Department
of Water Resources, established under the applicable structure to
which the customer would be assigned if the customer did not use an
eligible wind electrical generating facility.
SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a
local agency or school district has the authority to levy service
charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or
level of service mandated by this act or because costs that may be
incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred
because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a
crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or
infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government
Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.