California Assembly Bill AB2529 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2529AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Williams FEBRUARY 21, 2014  An act to amend Section 26004 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy.   An act to add Section 25327 to the Public Resources Code, relating to energy.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2529, as amended, Williams.  Energy: alternative energy and advanced transportation.   Energy: usage: plug-in equipment.   Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), on a biennial basis, to conduct assessments and forecasts of all aspects of energy industry supply, production, transportation, delivery, and distribution. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, beginning November 1, 2003, and biennially thereafter, to adopt an integrated energy policy report containing an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state.   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory jurisdiction over the public utilities, including electrical corporations.   This bill would require the Energy Commission and the Public Utilities Commission, working jointly, to perform a baseline study of energy usage by plug-in equipment, as defined, in 2014 and to develop a coordinated implementation plan to achieve by 2030 specified aggregate reductions in energy consumption by plug-in equipment from the 2014 baseline, with biennial intermediate targets. The bill would require the Energy Commission to report on the progress towards meeting the reduction targets and update the implementation plan as a part of the integrated energy policy report.   Existing law establishes the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority consisting of specified members and authorizes the authority to provide financial assistance to projects related to the utilization of alternative energy sources or advanced transportation technologies.   This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to this law.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) Energy efficiency programs and standards are essential tools to help California conserve energy. (2) Currently, plug-in equipment, such as indoor and outdoor appliances, consumer and office electronics, and power tools, are responsible for nearly 60 percent of residential building electricity consumption in California and their electricity consumption are projected to increase by 2030. (3) California has set ambitious goals for energy efficiency in buildings and lighting, but does not have quantified goals for a category that represents the majority of residential building electricity consumption. (4) Large and cost-effective energy savings opportunities remain available in plug-in equipment through a combination of incentive programs, partnerships with industry, research and development, consumer education, and efficiency standards. (5) Challenges with the attribution of business and consumer electronics program savings to utilities and implementers are limiting the effective utilization of these programs to capture savings opportunities in residential and commercial plug-in electronics. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to set a goal for plug-in equipment energy consumption to ensure both of the following: (1) Energy savings opportunities in support of the state's energy and climate change goals are captured. (2) The effective utilization of incentive programs, partnerships with industry, research and development, consumer education, and efficiency standards to meet the state's energy and climate goals.   SEC. 2.   Section 25327 is added to the   Public Resources Code   , to read:   25327. (a) (1) For the purposes of this section, except as provided in paragraph (2), "plug-in equipment" means an electrical device that plugs into a wall outlet, including, but not limited to, indoor appliances, such as kitchen and laundry appliances, commercial plug-in refrigeration, and security appliances; outdoor appliances, such as hot tubs and pool pumps and heaters; consumer and office electronics; personal care products; and power tools. (2) "Plug-in equipment" does not include the following: (A) Servers at industrial-scale data centers located in buildings whose primary function is to be a data center. (B) Heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) equipment. (C) Built-in or portable lighting. (D) Infrastructure loads connected directly to the building wiring, such as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) breakers and outlets, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, dimming switches, doorbells, and garage openers. (E) Electric vehicles. (F) Medical devices as defined in subsection (h) of Section 321 of Title 21 of the United States Code. (b) The commission and the Public Utilities Commission, working jointly, shall do all of the following: (1) Perform a baseline study of energy use by plug-in equipment in residential and commercial sectors of the state in 2014. (2) Develop a coordinated implementation plan to achieve by 2030 at least a 30 percent aggregate reduction in energy consumption per residential household, and 50 percent aggregate reduction in energy consumption per square foot of commercial space, by plug-in equipment in the state from the 2014 baseline determined pursuant to paragraph (1), with biennial intermediate targets between 2016 to 2030. (3) Work with stakeholders to address challenges that may inhibit the achievement of the reduction targets set forth in paragraph (2), including, but not limited to, the attribution of energy savings associated with business and consumer electronics programs. (4) Track the implementation of the plan in meeting the reduction targets annually through the Electricity Supply Analysis Division of the commission and the Energy Division of the Public Utilities Commission. (c) The commission shall report on the progress towards meeting the reduction targets through the tracking pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) and update the implementation plan, as a part of the integrated energy policy report required pursuant to Section 25302.   SECTION 1.   Section 26004 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 26004. (a) There is in the state government the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority. The authority constitutes a public instrumentality and the exercise by the authority of powers conferred by this division is the performance of an essential public function. (b) The authority shall consist of five members, as follows: (1) The Director of Finance. (2) The Chairperson of the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. (3) The President of the Public Utilities Commission. (4) The Controller. (5) The Treasurer, who shall serve as the chairperson of the authority. (c) The members listed in subdivision (b) may each designate a deputy or clerk in his or her agency to act for and represent the member at all meetings of the authority. (d) The first meeting of the authority shall be convened by the Treasurer.