SECTIONS 2781-2790 - California Statutes

PUBLIC UTILITIES CODE

SECTION 2781-2790

2781. As used in this chapter, the term "electrical corporation"
shall have the same meaning as prescribed in Section 218, and the
term "gas corporation" shall have the same meaning as prescribed in
Section 222.

2782. The commission shall permit any electrical or gas corporation
to institute a home insulation assistance and financing program for
its residential customers in accordance with the provisions of this
chapter. The commission shall develop and adopt, by regulation or
order, such requirements as it finds are necessary or desirable to
implement the provisions of this chapter.

2783. A home insulation assistance and financing program shall meet
the requirements specified in Sections 2784 to 2786, inclusive, and
such other requirements as the commission may impose.

2784. A customer of a participating electrical or gas corporation
who is the owner or mortgagor of real property or tenant of such
property with a written consent of the owner may apply to the
corporation for home insulation assistance and financing. To qualify
for financing, such customer must meet the credit criteria as may
reasonably be established by the corporation as approved by the
commission.

2785. Upon approval of an application, the corporation shall
arrange for a licensed contractor to perform the necessary work. Upon
approval of an estimate by the customer and the corporation, the
corporation shall direct the work to commence. All attic insulation
installations shall meet or exceed requirements applicable at the
time of installation or as may be established for existing
residential structures, except where such compliance is impossible or
impractical in an existing structure and an alternative method or
procedure providing satisfactory results is available. The
corporation shall arrange for inspection of a representative portion
of the work performed pursuant to this chapter. As used in this
section, the term "attic" means any air spaces between the ceiling
and roof of a residential dwelling which are accessible for the
purpose of the installation of insulation.

2786. An electrical or gas corporation shall provide for payment by
a customer for whom home insulation has been installed pursuant to
this chapter through such periodic billing procedures as may be
established by the corporation. The corporation may require an
initial payment toward the insulation services of not greater than 20
percent with the balance due payable in equal installments during a
period of 36 months following completion of the work, or at such
greater rate of repayment as the customer may elect. Finance charges
shall not be greater than the maximum allowable finance charges
permitted for retail installment contracts. Acceptable credit cards
may be utilized in lieu of these financial arrangements.

2787. As an alternative to the provisions of Section 2786, an
electrical or gas corporation may conclude financial arrangements
with one or more lending institutions in this state engaged in making
home improvement loans to provide loans to customers for purposes of
home insulation pursuant to this chapter. The corporation may
provide for payment of the loan balance by the customer through the
corporation's regular bill for public utility services. Any such
financial arrangements shall include all of the following provisions:
(a) The amount financed shall be payable in equal installments
during a period of 36 months following completion of the work, or at
such greater rate of repayment as the customer may elect.
(b) Provision that the corporation shall not be liable to the
lending institution in the event of the customer's default.
(c) Provision that approval of the customer's credit shall be at
the option of the lending institution.
Notwithstanding any language contained in this section, acceptable
credit cards may be utilized in lieu of the above provisions.

2788. The commission shall allow for purposes of setting the rates
of any electrical or gas corporation participating in a home
insulation assistance and financing program all expenses which the
commission finds are reasonably related to the implementation and
administration of the program, including commercial advertising. The
commission may disapprove any such advertising or promotion which the
commission finds is not reasonably designed to promote the success
of the home insulation financial assistance program.

2789. Notwithstanding any provision of this part, the commission
may permit or require any electrical or gas corporation subject to
its jurisdiction to institute energy conservation programs for its
customers, including related financial assistance at terms found
reasonable by the commission. Such terms may include any provision of
this chapter. This chapter shall not apply to solar water heating
systems or active solar space conditioning systems. The commission
shall initiate appropriate actions to secure exemptions or waivers
which may be required under federal law. Nothing in this chapter
shall expand, limit, or contract the general powers of the commission
contained in this part or the authority of the commission regarding
the terms and conditions of service by a utility. Any work requiring
a license pursuant to Chapter 9 of Division 3 (commencing with
Section 7000) of the Business and Professions Code which is performed
pursuant to such an energy conservation program shall be performed
by a licensed contractor.

2790. (a) The commission shall require an electrical or gas
corporation to perform home weatherization services for low-income
customers, as determined by the commission under Section 739, 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.
(b) (1) For purposes of this section, "weatherization" may
include, 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 that reduce air
infiltration.
(2) The commission shall direct any electrical or gas corporation
to provide as many of these measures as are feasible 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 commission to be feasible, taking into
consideration for all measures both the cost-effectiveness of the
measures as a whole and the policy of reducing energy-related
hardships facing low-income households.
(d) Weatherization programs shall use the needs assessment
pursuant to Section 382.1 to maximize efficiency of delivery.