The commission shall continuously carry out studies, research projects, data collection, and other activities required to assess the nature, extent, and distribution of energy resources to meet the needs of the state, including but not limited to, fossil fuels and solar, nuclear, and geothermal energy resources. It shall also carry out studies, technical assessments, research projects, and data collection directed to reducing wasteful, inefficient, unnecessary, or uneconomic uses of energy, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(a) Pricing of electricity and other forms of energy.
(b) Improved building design and insulation.
(c) Restriction of promotional activities designed to increase the use of electricity by consumers.
(d) Improved appliance efficiency.
(e) Advances in power generation and transmission technology.
(f) Comparisons in the efficiencies of alternative methods of energy utilization.
The commission shall survey pursuant to this section all forms of energy on which to base its recommendations to the Governor and Legislature for elimination of waste or increases in efficiency for sources or uses of energy. The commission shall transmit to the Governor and the Legislature, as part of the biennial report specified in Section 25302, recommendations for state policy and actions for the orderly development of all potential sources of energy to meet the state’s needs, including, but not limited to, fossil fuels and solar, nuclear, and geothermal energy resources, and to reduce wasteful and inefficient uses of energy.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 256. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)