California 2009-2010 Regular Session Status: To Executive Bipartisan · 1 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 14 — Utilities: renewable energy resources.

Last action — Stricken from Senate file.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2009-2010 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

(1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. Existing law requires the PUC to require the state's 3 largest electrical corporations, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison, to identify a separate electrical rate component to fund programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits. This rate component is a nonbypassable element of local distribution and collected on the basis of usage. Existing PUC resolutions refer to the nonbypassable rate component as a "public goods charge." The public goods charge moneys are collected to support cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities, public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets, and renewable energy resources. The existing Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) . Existing law establishes the Renewable Resource Trust Fund as a fund that is continuously appropriated, with certain exceptions for administrative expenses, in the State Treasury and requires that certain moneys collected to support renewable energy resources through the public goods charge are deposited into the fund and authorizes the Energy Commission to expend the moneys pursuant to the Renewable Energy Resources Program. The program states the intent of the Legislature to increase the amount of electricity generated from eligible renewable energy resources per year so that amount equals at least 20% of total retail sales of electricity in California per year by December 31, 2010. This bill would revise the Renewable Energy Resources Program to state the intent of the Legislature to increase the amount of electricity generated from eligible renewable energy resources per year, so that amount equals at least 33% of total retail sales of electricity in California per year by December 31, 2020. The bill would revise certain terms used in the program and revise certain eligibility criteria for a renewable electrical generation facility, as defined, pursuant to the program. The bill would require the Energy Commission, by May 31, 2010, to report to the Legislature whether out-of-state, run-of-river hydroelectric generating facilities should be considered renewable electric generating facilities, as defined. (2) Existing law expresses the intent of the Legislature, in establishing the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program (RPS program) , to increase the amount of electricity generated per year from eligible renewable energy resources, as defined, to an amount that equals at least 20% of the total electricity sold to retail customers in California per year by December 31, 2010. This bill would express the intent that the amount of electricity generated per year from eligible renewable energy resources be increased to an amount that equals at least 20% of the total electricity sold to retail customers in California per year by December 31, 2013, and 33% by December 31, 2020. (3) The Public Utilities Act imposes various duties and responsibilities on the PUC with respect to the purchase of electricity and requires the PUC to review and adopt a procurement plan and a renewable energy procurement plan for each electrical corporation, as defined, pursuant to the RPS program. The RPS program requires that a retail seller of electricity, including electrical corporations, community choice aggregators, and electric service providers, but not including local publicly owned electric utilities, purchase a specified minimum percentage of electricity generated by eligible renewable energy resources in any given year as a specified percentage of total kilowatthours sold to retail end-use customers each calendar year. The RPS program requires the PUC to implement annual procurement targets for each retail seller to increase its total procurement of electricity generated by eligible renewable energy resources by at least an additional 1% of retail sales per year so that 20% of its retail sales of electricity are procured from eligible renewable energy resources no later than December 31, 2010. Existing law requires the PUC to make a determination of the existing market cost for electricity, which PUC decisions call the market price referent, and to limit an electrical corporation's obligation to procure electricity from eligible renewable energy resources, that exceeds the market price referent, to an amount collected through the renewable energy public goods charge. This bill would instead require the PUC to require that a retail seller procure the following percentages of electricity from eligible renewable energy resources by the following dates: (A) Until December 31, 2012, the same percentage as actually achieved by the retail seller during 2009; (B) 20% by December 31, 2013; (C) 25% by December 31, 2016; and (D) 33% by December 31, 2020. The bill would authorize the PUC to permit a retail seller to delay compliance with (B) or (C) procurement levels when specified circumstances are present, but would not authorize the PUC to permit a retail seller to delay compliance with the (D) procurement level. The bill would delete the existing market price referent provisions and instead require the PUC to establish a methodology to determine the market price of electricity for terms corresponding to the length of contracts with eligible renewable energy resources, in consideration of, and reflecting, certain matters. The bill would require the PUC to establish a limitation on the annual expenditures made above the market price, by an electrical corporation, in order to achieve the procurement levels established by the PUC. The bill would require the PUC to permit an electrical corporation to limit its procurement of electricity from eligible renewable energy resources to that quantity that can be procured at or below the market prices established by the PUC, up to the limitation. The bill would delete an existing requirement that the PUC adopt flexible rules for compliance for retail sellers. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the PUC is a crime. Because the provisions of this bill are within the act and require action by the PUC to implement its requirements, a violation of these provisions would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the definition of a crime. (4) Under existing law, the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility is responsible for implementing and enforcing a renewables portfolio standard for the utility that recognizes the intent of the Legislature to encourage renewable resources, while taking into consideration the effect of the standard on rates, reliability, and financial resources and the goal of environmental improvement. This bill would repeal this provision and instead make certain of the requirements of the RPS program, as discussed below, applicable to local publicly owned electric utilities. By placing additional requirements upon local publicly owned electric utilities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (5) Existing law requires the Energy Commission to certify eligible renewable energy resources, to design and implement an accounting system to verify compliance with the RPS requirements by retail sellers, and to develop tracking, accounting, verification, and enforcement mechanisms for renewable energy credits, as defined. This bill would require the Energy Commission to design and implement an accounting system to verify compliance with the RPS requirements by retail sellers and local publicly owned electric utilities. The bill would require the Energy Commission, among other things, to adopt regulations specifying procedures for enforcement of the RPS requirements that include a public process under which the Energy Commission is authorized to issue a notice of violation and correction with respect to a local publicly owned electric utility and for referral to the State Air Resources Board for penalties imposed pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The bill would require that the RPS established for a local publicly owned electric utility require it to procure the following percentages of electricity from eligible renewable energy resources by the following dates: (A) Until December 31, 2012, the same percentage as actually achieved by the utility during 2009; (B) 20% by December 31, 2013; (C) 25% by December 31, 2016; and (D) 33% by December 31, 2020. The bill would provide that the local publicly owned electric utility retains discretion with respect to certain matters in complying with the RPS, would require that certain notices be given by the utility when adopting and periodically revising its procurement plan, and would require the utility to report certain information relative to RPS compliance to the Energy Commission and its customers. (6) Existing law requires the PUC to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a written report annually before February 1 of each year on the costs of programs and activities conducted by an electrical corporation or gas corporation that have more than a specified number of customers in California. The bill would require the PUC to prepare and submit to the policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, annually before February 1 of each year, a report on (A) all electrical corporation revenue requirement increases associated with meeting the renewables portfolio standard, (B) all cost savings experienced, or costs avoided, by electrical corporations as a result of meeting the renewables portfolio standard, (C) all costs incurred by electrical corporations for incentives for distributed and renewable generation, (D) all cost savings experienced, or costs avoided, by electrical corporations as a result of incentives for distributed generation and renewable generation, (E) specified costs for which an electrical corporation is seeking recovery in rates that are pending determination or approval by the PUC, (F) the decision number of each PUC decision in the prior year authorizing an electrical corporation to recover costs incurred in rates, and (G) any changes in the prior year in load serviced by an electrical corporation. (7) This bill would appropriate $322,000 from the Public Utilities Commission Utilities Reimbursement Account to the PUC for additional staffing to identify, review, and approve transmission lines reasonably necessary or appropriate to facilitate achievement of the renewables portfolio standard. (8) 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.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Stricken from Senate file.

  2. In Senate. To unfinished business. (Veto)

  3. Vetoed by Governor.

  4. Enrolled. To Governor at 1:45 p.m.

  5. Senate concurs in Assembly amendments. (Ayes 22. Noes 13. Page 2440.) To enrollment.

  6. In Senate.

  7. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 49. Noes 28. Page 3393.) To Senate.

  8. Read second time. To third reading.

  9. Read second time. Amended. To second reading.

  10. (Heard in committee on September 9.)

  11. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 10. Noes 5.)

  12. Joint Rule 62(a) file notice suspended. (Page 3152.)

  13. Re-referred to Com. On U. & C. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

  14. Read third time. Amended. (Ayes 43. Noes 28. Page 3041.)

  15. Read second time. To third reading.

  16. (Received by Desk on August 28 pursuant to Joint Rule 61(a)(11).)

  17. (Heard in committee on August 27.)

  18. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 5.)

  19. Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  20. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time. Amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  21. Read second time. Amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  22. (Heard in committee on July 8.)

  23. From committee: Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 3.)

  24. (Heard in committee on July 6.)

  25. From committee: Do pass, but first be re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 10. Noes 5.) Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

  26. Joint Rule 62(a) file notice (Com. on U. & C.) suspended. (Ayes 46. Noes 25. Page 2335.)

  27. Set, first hearing. Further hearing to be set.

  28. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time. Amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & C.

  29. To Coms. on U. & C. and NAT. RES.

  30. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  31. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 21. Noes 16. Page 374.) To Assembly.

  32. Read second time. Amended. To third reading.

  33. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 5. Page 332.)

  34. Set for hearing March 23.

  35. Placed on APPR suspense file.

  36. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time. Amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  37. Set for hearing March 16.

  38. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  39. From committee: Do pass, but first be re-referred to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 6. Noes 3. Page 250.) Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  40. Set for hearing March 3.

  41. Hearing postponed by committee.

  42. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time. Amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.

  43. Set for hearing February 23.

  44. Testimony taken. Hearing postponed by committee.

  45. Set for hearing February 10.

  46. Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  47. Set for hearing February 3.

  48. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time. Amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.

  49. To Coms. on E., U. & C. and RLS.

  50. From print. May be acted upon on or after January 1.

  51. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

  • Stephen C. Padilla · Cosponsor
  • Brian W. Jones · Cosponsor
  • Alquist · Cosponsor
  • DeSaulnier · Cosponsor
  • Kehoe · Cosponsor
  • Krekorian · Cosponsor
  • Leno · Cosponsor
  • Romero · Cosponsor
  • Simitian · Primary
  • Skinner · Cosponsor
  • Steinberg · Cosponsor
  • Wiggins · Cosponsor
  • Bonnie Lowenthal · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 109 not signed on · 4 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Simitian

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (109)

109 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 109 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

SB 14 Simitian Senate Third Reading By KREKORIAN

Passed 57 Yea · 31 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 542902
Republican 1200
Democratic 2001
Total 573103
% of votes cast 63%34%0%3%
How each member voted (91)
Member Party Vote
Hall — Yea
Audra — Nay
Charles — Not Voting
Miller — Nay
Nestande — Nay
Silva — Nay
Torres — Not Voting
Tran — Nay
Villines — Nay
Carter — Yea
Chesbro — Yea
Eng — Yea
Feuer — Yea
Fuentes — Yea
Furutani — Yea
Galgiani — Yea
Gilmore — Nay
Hagman — Nay
De — Yea
La — Yea
Torre — Yea
De — Yea
Leon — Yea
Fong — Yea
Bonnie — Yea
Lowenthal — Yea
V. — Yea
Manuel — Yea
Perez — Yea
John — Yea
A. — Yea
Perez — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Salas — Yea
Saldana — Yea
Conway — Nay
Cook — Nay
Coto — Yea
Bill — Nay
Tom — Nay
Harkey — Nay
Hayashi — Yea
Hill — Yea
Huber — Yea
Fletcher — Nay
Anderson — Nay
Bass — Yea
Blakeslee — Nay
Davis — Yea
DeVore — Nay
Jeffries — Nay
Knight — Nay
Lieu — Yea
Ma — Yea
Monning — Yea
Nava — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Solorio — Yea
Torlakson — Yea
Torrico — Yea
Adams — Nay
Ammiano — Yea
Beall — Yea
Block — Yea
Blumenfield — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Brownley — Yea
Buchanan — Yea
Hernandez — Yea
Huffman — Yea
Krekorian — Yea
Logue — Nay
Mendoza — Yea
Nielsen — Nay
Ruskin — Yea
Smyth — Nay
Swanson — Yea
Emmerson — Nay
Evans — Yea
Yamada — Yea
Fuller — Nay
Garrick — Nay
Beth Gaines — Nay
Bill Berryhill — Nay
Bill Berryhill — Nay
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Not Voting
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Nay
Strickland, Tony Republican Nay

Official roll call →

W/O REF. TO FILE SB14 Simitian Concurrence

Passed 22 Yea · 13 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 191306
Democratic 2000
Republican 1000
Total 221306
% of votes cast 54%32%0%15%
How each member voted (41)
Member Party Vote
Yee — Yea
Cedillo — Yea
Ducheny — Yea
Lowenthal — Yea
Hancock — Yea
Runner — Nay
Negrete — Not Voting
Harman — Nay
Huff — Nay
Kehoe — Yea
Correa — Not Voting
Leno — Yea
McLeod — Not Voting
Ashburn — Nay
Benoit — Nay
Dutton — Nay
Pavley — Yea
Romero — Yea
Walters — Nay
Wiggins — Yea
Wolk — Yea
Wright — Not Voting
Aanestad — Nay
Alquist — Yea
Hollingsworth — Nay
Liu — Not Voting
Maldonado — Not Voting
Oropeza — Yea
Price — Yea
Simitian — Yea
Steinberg — Yea
Wyland — Nay
Cogdill — Nay
Corbett — Yea
Cox — Nay
DeSaulnier — Yea
Denham — Nay
Florez — Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended.

Passed 10 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10600
Total 10600
% of votes cast 63%38%0%0%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Fong — Yea
Tom — Nay
Fletcher — Nay
Carter — Yea
Fuentes — Yea
Fuller — Nay
Huffman — Yea
Krekorian — Yea
Smyth — Nay
Torrico — Yea
Villines — Nay
Buchanan — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Swanson — Yea
Furutani — Yea
Bill Berryhill — Nay

Official roll call →

SB 14 Simitian Senate Third Reading Amend By FUENTES Set #1

Passed 50 Yea · 30 Nay · 11 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4628011
Democratic 3000
Republican 1200
Total 5030011
% of votes cast 55%33%0%12%
How each member voted (91)
Member Party Vote
Eng — Yea
Carter — Yea
Chesbro — Yea
Feuer — Yea
Hall — Yea
Charles — Yea
Hernandez — Yea
Fletcher — Nay
Audra — Nay
Tom — Not Voting
De — Not Voting
La — Not Voting
Torre — Not Voting
Evans — Not Voting
Fuller — Nay
Galgiani — Not Voting
Gilmore — Nay
Hagman — Nay
Harkey — Nay
Davis — Not Voting
Duvall — Nay
Knight — Nay
Krekorian — Not Voting
Miller — Nay
Nestande — Nay
Silva — Nay
Smyth — Nay
Tran — Nay
Villines — Nay
De — Yea
Leon — Yea
Fong — Yea
Bonnie — Yea
Lowenthal — Yea
V. — Yea
Manuel — Yea
Perez — Yea
John — Yea
A. — Yea
Perez — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Salas — Yea
Saldana — Yea
Conway — Nay
Bill — Nay
Huber — Yea
Huffman — Yea
Lieu — Yea
Anderson — Nay
Bass — Yea
Blakeslee — Nay
Cook — Nay
Coto — Yea
Mendoza — Yea
Monning — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Solorio — Yea
Swanson — Yea
Torres — Yea
Torrico — Yea
Adams — Nay
Ammiano — Not Voting
Beall — Yea
Block — Yea
Blumenfield — Yea
Brownley — Yea
Buchanan — Yea
Hayashi — Yea
Hill — Yea
Jeffries — Nay
Logue — Nay
Ma — Yea
Nava — Yea
Nielsen — Nay
Ruskin — Yea
Torlakson — Yea
Emmerson — Nay
DeVore — Nay
Yamada — Yea
Fuentes — Yea
Furutani — Not Voting
Garrick — Nay
Beth Gaines — Nay
Bill Berryhill — Not Voting
Bill Berryhill — Nay
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Nay
Strickland, Tony Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass.

Passed 16 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 15500
Democratic 1000
Republican 0100
Total 16600
% of votes cast 73%27%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Hall — Yea
Conway — Nay
Charles — Yea
Fuentes — Yea
De — Yea
Leon — Yea
John — Yea
A. — Yea
Perez — Yea
Audra — Nay
Harkey — Nay
Hill — Yea
Miller — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Ammiano — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Solorio — Yea
Torlakson — Yea
Coto — Yea
Davis — Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.

Passed 10 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10600
Total 10600
% of votes cast 63%38%0%0%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Fuentes — Yea
Fong — Yea
Tom — Nay
Fuller — Nay
Furutani — Yea
Carter — Yea
Krekorian — Yea
Duvall — Nay
Skinner — Yea
Swanson — Yea
Villines — Nay
Buchanan — Yea
Huffman — Yea
Smyth — Nay
Torrico — Yea
Bill Berryhill — Nay

Official roll call →

Senate 3rd Reading SB14 Simitian

Passed 21 Yea · 16 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 181602
Democratic 3000
Republican 0001
Total 211603
% of votes cast 53%40%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Yee — Yea
Hancock — Yea
Cedillo — Yea
Corbett — Yea
Ducheny — Yea
Florez — Yea
Leno — Yea
Liu — Yea
Oropeza — Yea
Pavley — Yea
Romero — Yea
Wyland — Nay
Runner — Nay
Negrete — Not Voting
Harman — Nay
Hollingsworth — Nay
Cogdill — Nay
Huff — Nay
Maldonado — Nay
McLeod — Not Voting
Correa — Nay
Cox — Nay
Dutton — Nay
Benoit — Nay
Simitian — Yea
Steinberg — Yea
Walters — Nay
Wiggins — Yea
Wolk — Yea
Aanestad — Nay
Alquist — Yea
Ashburn — Nay
Kehoe — Yea
Wright — Nay
DeSaulnier — Yea
Denham — Nay
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended.

Passed 7 Yea · 5 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7501
Total 7501
% of votes cast 54%38%0%8%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Yee — Yea
Hancock — Yea
Wyland — Nay
Runner — Nay
Leno — Yea
Walters — Nay
Wolk — Yea
Kehoe — Yea
Oropeza — Not Voting
Corbett — Yea
Cox — Nay
DeSaulnier — Yea
Denham — Nay

Official roll call →

Placed on Appropriations Suspense file.

Passed 10 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10003
Total 10003
% of votes cast 77%0%0%23%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Yee — Yea
Hancock — Not Voting
Kehoe — Yea
Runner — Yea
Walters — Yea
Wolk — Yea
Leno — Yea
Oropeza — Not Voting
Wyland — Yea
Corbett — Yea
Cox — Yea
DeSaulnier — Yea
Denham — Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass, but re-refer to the Committee on Rules.

Passed 6 Yea · 3 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 2001
Republican 0001
Unaffiliated 4300
Total 6302
% of votes cast 55%27%0%18%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Corbett — Yea
Cox — Nay
Kehoe — Yea
Benoit — Nay
Wiggins — Yea
Wright — Nay
Simitian — Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Not Voting
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

environment energy
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 14 do?
(1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. Existing law requires the PUC to require the state's 3 largest electrical corporations, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison, to identify a separate electrical rate component to fund programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits. This rate component is a nonbypassable element of local distribution and collected on the basis of usage. Existing PUC resolutions refer to the nonbypassable rate component as a "public goods charge." The public goods charge moneys are collected to support cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities, public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets, and renewable energy resources. The existing Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) . Existing law establishes the Renewable Resource Trust Fund as a fund that is continuously appropriated, with certain exceptions for administrative expenses, in the State Treasury and requires that certain moneys collected to support renewable energy resources through the public goods charge are deposited into the fund and authorizes the Energy Commission to expend the moneys pursuant to the Renewable Energy Resources Program. The program states the intent of the Legislature to increase the amount of electricity generated from eligible renewable energy resources per year so that amount equals at least 20% of total retail sales of electricity in California per year by December 31, 2010. This bill would revise the Renewable Energy Resources Program to state the intent of the Legislature to increase the amount of electricity generated from eligible renewable energy resources per year, so that amount equals at least 33% of total retail sales of electricity in California per year by December 31, 2020. The bill would revise certain terms used in the program and revise certain eligibility criteria for a renewable electrical generation facility, as defined, pursuant to the program. The bill would require the Energy Commission, by May 31, 2010, to report to the Legislature whether out-of-state, run-of-river hydroelectric generating facilities should be considered renewable electric generating facilities, as defined. (2) Existing law expresses the intent of the Legislature, in establishing the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program (RPS program) , to increase the amount of electricity generated per year from eligible renewable energy resources, as defined, to an amount that equals at least 20% of the total electricity sold to retail customers in California per year by December 31, 2010. This bill would express the intent that the amount of electricity generated per year from eligible renewable energy resources be increased to an amount that equals at least 20% of the total electricity sold to retail customers in California per year by December 31, 2013, and 33% by December 31, 2020. (3) The Public Utilities Act imposes various duties and responsibilities on the PUC with respect to the purchase of electricity and requires the PUC to review and adopt a procurement plan and a renewable energy procurement plan for each electrical corporation, as defined, pursuant to the RPS program. The RPS program requires that a retail seller of electricity, including electrical corporations, community choice aggregators, and electric service providers, but not including local publicly owned electric utilities, purchase a specified minimum percentage of electricity generated by eligible renewable energy resources in any given year as a specified percentage of total kilowatthours sold to retail end-use customers each calendar year. The RPS program requires the PUC to implement annual procurement targets for each retail seller to increase its total procurement of electricity generated by eligible renewable energy resources by at least an additional 1% of retail sales per year so that 20% of its retail sales of electricity are procured from eligible renewable energy resources no later than December 31, 2010. Existing law requires the PUC to make a determination of the existing market cost for electricity, which PUC decisions call the market price referent, and to limit an electrical corporation's obligation to procure electricity from eligible renewable energy resources, that exceeds the market price referent, to an amount collected through the renewable energy public goods charge. This bill would instead require the PUC to require that a retail seller procure the following percentages of electricity from eligible renewable energy resources by the following dates: (A) Until December 31, 2012, the same percentage as actually achieved by the retail seller during 2009; (B) 20% by December 31, 2013; (C) 25% by December 31, 2016; and (D) 33% by December 31, 2020. The bill would authorize the PUC to permit a retail seller to delay compliance with (B) or (C) procurement levels when specified circumstances are present, but would not authorize the PUC to permit a retail seller to delay compliance with the (D) procurement level. The bill would delete the existing market price referent provisions and instead require the PUC to establish a methodology to determine the market price of electricity for terms corresponding to the length of contracts with eligible renewable energy resources, in consideration of, and reflecting, certain matters. The bill would require the PUC to establish a limitation on the annual expenditures made above the market price, by an electrical corporation, in order to achieve the procurement levels established by the PUC. The bill would require the PUC to permit an electrical corporation to limit its procurement of electricity from eligible renewable energy resources to that quantity that can be procured at or below the market prices established by the PUC, up to the limitation. The bill would delete an existing requirement that the PUC adopt flexible rules for compliance for retail sellers. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the PUC is a crime. Because the provisions of this bill are within the act and require action by the PUC to implement its requirements, a violation of these provisions would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the definition of a crime. (4) Under existing law, the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility is responsible for implementing and enforcing a renewables portfolio standard for the utility that recognizes the intent of the Legislature to encourage renewable resources, while taking into consideration the effect of the standard on rates, reliability, and financial resources and the goal of environmental improvement. This bill would repeal this provision and instead make certain of the requirements of the RPS program, as discussed below, applicable to local publicly owned electric utilities. By placing additional requirements upon local publicly owned electric utilities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (5) Existing law requires the Energy Commission to certify eligible renewable energy resources, to design and implement an accounting system to verify compliance with the RPS requirements by retail sellers, and to develop tracking, accounting, verification, and enforcement mechanisms for renewable energy credits, as defined. This bill would require the Energy Commission to design and implement an accounting system to verify compliance with the RPS requirements by retail sellers and local publicly owned electric utilities. The bill would require the Energy Commission, among other things, to adopt regulations specifying procedures for enforcement of the RPS requirements that include a public process under which the Energy Commission is authorized to issue a notice of violation and correction with respect to a local publicly owned electric utility and for referral to the State Air Resources Board for penalties imposed pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The bill would require that the RPS established for a local publicly owned electric utility require it to procure the following percentages of electricity from eligible renewable energy resources by the following dates: (A) Until December 31, 2012, the same percentage as actually achieved by the utility during 2009; (B) 20% by December 31, 2013; (C) 25% by December 31, 2016; and (D) 33% by December 31, 2020. The bill would provide that the local publicly owned electric utility retains discretion with respect to certain matters in complying with the RPS, would require that certain notices be given by the utility when adopting and periodically revising its procurement plan, and would require the utility to report certain information relative to RPS compliance to the Energy Commission and its customers. (6) Existing law requires the PUC to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a written report annually before February 1 of each year on the costs of programs and activities conducted by an electrical corporation or gas corporation that have more than a specified number of customers in California. The bill would require the PUC to prepare and submit to the policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, annually before February 1 of each year, a report on (A) all electrical corporation revenue requirement increases associated with meeting the renewables portfolio standard, (B) all cost savings experienced, or costs avoided, by electrical corporations as a result of meeting the renewables portfolio standard, (C) all costs incurred by electrical corporations for incentives for distributed and renewable generation, (D) all cost savings experienced, or costs avoided, by electrical corporations as a result of incentives for distributed generation and renewable generation, (E) specified costs for which an electrical corporation is seeking recovery in rates that are pending determination or approval by the PUC, (F) the decision number of each PUC decision in the prior year authorizing an electrical corporation to recover costs incurred in rates, and (G) any changes in the prior year in load serviced by an electrical corporation. (7) This bill would appropriate $322,000 from the Public Utilities Commission Utilities Reimbursement Account to the PUC for additional staffing to identify, review, and approve transmission lines reasonably necessary or appropriate to facilitate achievement of the renewables portfolio standard. (8) 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.
Who sponsors SB 14?
SB 14 is sponsored by Padilla, Stephen C. (Democratic), Jones, Brian W. (Republican), Alquist, DeSaulnier, Kehoe, Krekorian, Leno, Romero, Simitian, Skinner, Steinberg, Wiggins, and Bonnie Lowenthal.
What is the current status of SB 14?
This bill died with 2009-2010 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 14?
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