BILL NUMBER: AB 693	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Eggman

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2015

   An act to amend Section 2852 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to renewable energy resources.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 693, as introduced, Eggman. Renewable energy: solar energy
systems: low-income residential housing.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has
regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical
corporations, as defined. A decision of the PUC adopted the
California Solar Initiative. Existing law requires the PUC to
undertake certain steps in implementing the California Solar
Initiative for low-income residential housing.
   The bill would make a nonsubstantive change to that 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 2852 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   2852.  (a) As used in this section, the following terms have the
following meanings:
   (1) "Affordable housing cost," "affordable rent," and "lower
income households" have the same meanings as in those set forth in
Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 50050) of Part 1 of Division 31 of
the Health and Safety Code.
   (2) "California Solar Initiative" means the program providing
ratepayer-funded incentives for eligible solar energy systems adopted
by the Public Utilities Commission in Decision 05-12-044 and
Decision 06-01-024.
   (3) "Low-income residential housing" means any of the following:
   (A) A multifamily residential complex financed with low-income
housing tax credits, tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, general
obligation bonds, or local, state, or federal loans or grants, and
for which either of the following applies:
   (i) The rents of the occupants who are lower income households do
not exceed those prescribed by deed restrictions or regulatory
agreements pursuant to the terms of the financing or financial
assistance.
   (ii) The affordable units have been or will be initially sold at
an affordable housing cost to a lower income household and those
units are subject to a resale restriction or equity sharing agreement
pursuant to the terms of the financing or financial assistance.
   (B) A multifamily residential complex in which  at least
 20 percent  or more  of the total housing units
are sold or rented to lower income households and either of the
following applies:
   (i) The rental housing units targeted for lower income households
are subject to a deed restriction or affordability covenant with a
public entity or nonprofit housing provider organized under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that has as its stated purpose
in its articles of incorporation on file with the office of the
Secretary of State to provide affordable housing to lower income
households that ensures that the units will be available at an
affordable rent for a period of at least 30 years.
   (ii) The housing units have been or will be initially sold at an
affordable cost to a lower income household and those units are
subject to a resale restriction or equity sharing agreement, for
which the homeowner does not receive a greater share of equity than
described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 65915 of the
Government Code, with a public entity or nonprofit housing provider
organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that
has as its stated purpose in its articles of incorporation on file
with the office of the Secretary of State to provide affordable
housing to lower income households.
   (C) An individual residence sold at an affordable housing cost to
a lower income household that is subject to a resale restriction or
equity sharing agreement, for which the homeowner does not receive a
greater share of equity than described in paragraph (2) of
subdivision (c) of Section 65915 of the Government Code, with a
public entity or nonprofit housing provider organized under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that has as its stated purpose
in its articles of incorporation on file with the office of the
Secretary of State to provide affordable housing to lower income
households.
   (4) "Solar energy system" means a solar energy device that has the
primary purpose of providing for the collection and distribution of
solar energy for the generation of electricity, that produces at
least one kilowatt, and produces not more than five megawatts,
alternating current rated peak electricity, and that meets or exceeds
the eligibility criteria established by the commission or the Energy
Commission.
   (b) In establishing the California Solar Initiative, no moneys
shall be diverted from any existing programs for low-income
ratepayers, or from cost-effective energy efficiency or demand
response programs.
   (c) (1) The commission shall ensure that not less than 10 percent
of the funds for the California Solar Initiative, as specified in
subdivision (e) of, or moneys collected pursuant to subdivision (f)
of, Section 2851, are utilized for the installation of solar energy
systems on low-income residential housing. Notwithstanding any other
law, the commission may modify the monetary incentives made available
pursuant to the California Solar Initiative to accommodate the
limited financial resources of low-income residential housing.
   (2) The commission may incorporate a revolving loan or loan
guarantee program into the California Solar Initiative for low-income
residential housing. All loans outstanding as of January 1, 2022,
shall continue to be repaid consistent with the terms and conditions
of the program adopted and implemented by the commission pursuant to
this subdivision, until repaid in full.
   (3) All moneys set aside for the purpose of funding the
installation of solar energy systems on low-income residential
housing that are unexpended and unencumbered on January 1, 2022, and
all moneys thereafter repaid pursuant to paragraph (2), except to the
extent those moneys are encumbered pursuant to this section, shall
be utilized to augment existing cost-effective energy efficiency
measures in low-income residential housing that benefit ratepayers.
   (d) In supervising a program implementing the California Solar
Initiative pursuant to this section, the commission shall ensure that
the program does all of the following:
   (1) Is designed to maximize the overall benefit to ratepayers.
   (2) Requires participants who receive monetary incentives to
enroll in the Energy Savings Assistance Program established pursuant
to Section 382, if eligible.
   (3) Provides job training and employment opportunities in the
solar energy and energy efficiency sectors of the economy.