Capitol Bill Gauntlet Run

The legislative marathon is in its last stretch, with consultants and lobbyists running alongside. In flux, but expected to survive, is legislation advancing the renewables supply deadline mandate and requiring utilities to spell out costs added into rates—which now includes a net-metering provision. A measure dealing with reporting of the California Independent System Operator to lawmakers was looking for a home at press time. But much of lawmakers' time was spent discussing gay marriage, not energy policy. SB 107 by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) moves the 20 percent renewables portfolio standard mandate to 2010 from 2017 and allows out-of-state renewables to count toward the RPS if they are delivered into California. It is expected to pass. There is, however, a bit of a firestorm over the most recent amendment pushed by San Diego Gas & Electric. The utility's language would give the California Public Utilities Commission the authority to allow a utility to fall below the target when the cause is related to transmission ( Circuit , Aug. 28, 2005). "The argument is that San Diego doesn't need a backdoor 'out' from the RPS," responded Edward Randolph, consultant to the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee. He explained that there are already provisions allowing out-of-state renewables to count if delivered in-state, as well as the utility's ability to count renewables delivered to another utility territory. In addition, SDG&E just announced it plans a new transmission line that could tap into the geothermal power near the Salton Sea. Renewables advocates are fighting tooth and nail to strip out the language that would allow the CPUC to give SDG&E wiggle room to get around the renewables portfolio standard. AB 67 by Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys), which requires utilities to track and clearly report costs passed on to consumers, was expanded. Language from another bill chopped during a gut-and-amend process was inserted that extends net metering for fuel cells. Net metering of fuel cell projects will sunset at the end of this year without such an extension. The upcoming expiration of the uncontroversial fuel cell metering law came to light around the time the governor headed to Chico to christen Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s new hydrogen fuel cell project. Allowing owners of fuel cells to get credit for power added to the grid does not result in any cost shifts, and thus it faces no opposition, Randolph said. The credit is equal to the utilities' short-run avoided costs, far less than credits included in the Million Solar Roofs bill. For example, if the retail electricity rate is 13.5 cents/kWh, a fuel cell generator would receive a credit of about 6 cents/kWh, he said. Also in the works is legislation requiring the grid operator's chief executive officer to make a personal report to the Legislature, probably on an annual basis. It was urged by Senator Debra Bowen (D-Redondo Beach) during the confirmation hearings of the CAISO chair last week. Another seeks to expand enrollment of utilities' low-income CARE program.

Over 11K Stories!

| Independently Powered Energy News

Capitol Bill Gauntlet Run

vdharadmin

Related Posts

Gas & Electricity Costs Rise More, High Heat, Fires and Tight Supplies Likely

SDG&E Seeks 19% Revenue Hike

Gov’s Revised Budget Adding $9.5B to Climate Programs Met with Little Enthusiasm

Gov. Slips Energy Agency Reorg Plan into Bill