Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law requires the commission to require electrical corporations and gas corporations to perform home weatherization services, as described, for low-income customers if the commission determines that a significant need for those services exists in the corporation’s service territory, taking into consideration both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the policy of reducing the hardships facing low-income households, as specified.

This bill would require the commission to require electrical corporations and gas corporations, in performing those home weatherization services, to prioritize measurable improvements in household affordability and positive impacts on household health and safety and overall quality of life, integration of health, safety, and indoor air quality improvement measures necessary to enable whole-home improvements, coordinated delivery across fuel types and housing types, conditions, and tenancy structures, and program design that allows for tenant-level benefits where upgrades occur in rental properties, while preserving flexibility in program design. The bill would require the commission to require electrical and gas corporations to report on measurable household affordability outcomes, as specified. The bill would require the commission to ensure meaningful public and stakeholder input on the design and implementation of these low-income programs, as provided. The bill would require the commission to require electrical and gas corporations to prioritize participation by California-based small business enterprises, minority-owned business enterprises, women-owned business enterprises, and disabled veteran business enterprises in program delivery and contracting opportunities, as specified. The bill would revise the definition of “weatherization” for these purposes, as specified.

Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.