BILL NUMBER: AB 293 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Allen FEBRUARY 11, 2013 An act to amend Section 321.7 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 293, as introduced, Allen. Energy: distributed energy generation: study. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), on or before January 1, 2010, and biennially thereafter, in consultation with the Independent System Operator and the Energy Commission, to study, and submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor, on the impacts of distributed energy generation on the state's distribution and transmission grid. Existing law requires the PUC to specifically assess the impacts of the California Solar Initiative program and the self-generation incentive program. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to this provision. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 321.7 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read: 321.7. (a) On or before January 1, 2010, and biennially thereafter, the commission, in consultation with the Independent System Operator and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, shall study, and submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor, on the impacts of distributed energy generation on the state's distribution and transmission grid. The study shall evaluate all of the following: (1) Reliability and transmission issues related to connecting distributed energy generation to the local distribution networks and regional grid. (2) Issues related to grid reliability and operation, including interconnection, and the position of federal and state regulators toward distributed energy accessibility. (3) The effect on overall grid operation of various distributed energy generation sources. (4) Barriers affecting the connection of distributed energy to the state's grid. (5) Emerging technologies related to distributed energy generation interconnection. (6) Interconnection issues that may arise for the Independent System Operator and local distribution companies. (7) The effect on peak demand for electricity. (b) In addition, the commission shall specifically assess the impacts of the California Solar Initiative program, specified in Section 2851 and Section 25783 of the Public ResourcesCode,Code and the self-generation incentive program authorized by Section 379.6, and the net energy metering pilot program authorized by Section 2827.9.