9500-9502
PUBLIC UTILITIES CODE
SECTION 9500-9502
9500. (a) Each publicly owned electric and gas utility that provides the energy for space heating for low-income customers shall also provide home weatherization services for those customers if a significant need for those services exists in the utility's service territory, as determined by the utility, taking into consideration both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the public policy of reducing financial hardships facing low-income households. Publicly owned utilities shall not have to duplicate low-income home weatherization services provided by gas and electrical corporations serving the same service territory. (b) (1) For purposes of this section, "weatherization" includes, where feasible, any of the following measures for any dwelling unit: (A) Attic insulation. (B) Caulking. (C) Weatherstripping. (D) Low flow showerhead. (E) Waterheater blanket. (F) Door and building envelope repairs which reduce air infiltration. (2) Each publicly owned electric and gas utility shall provide as many of these measures as it determines to be feasible and cost-effective for each eligible low-income dwelling unit. (c) "Weatherization" may also include other building conservation measures, energy-efficient appliances, and energy education programs determined by the utility to be feasible, taking into consideration both the cost-effectiveness of the measures and the public policy of reducing the financial hardships facing low-income households. 9501. Each publicly owned electric and gas utility shall develop and implement its low-income home weatherization program, in consultation with gas and electrical corporations and the Department of Economic Opportunity, to avoid duplication and to ensure the most efficient use of public and private resources. For ratemaking purposes, gas and electrical corporation expenditures for consultation and coordination shall be recoverable from ratepayers, subject to the Public Utilities Commission's authority to determine the reasonableness of the amount of the expenditures. 9502. On or before December 1, 1994, and on a biennial basis thereafter, each publicly owned electric and gas utility shall submit a report to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission describing the status of their low-income weatherization programs required by Sections 9500 and 9501. Thereafter, as part of the biennial conservation report prepared pursuant to Section 25401.1 of the Public Resources Code, the commission shall report to the Legislature summarizing publicly owned utility efforts to comply with Sections 9500 and 9501.