(a) If an electrical or gas corporation desires to manufacture, lease, sell, or otherwise own or control any solar energy system, it shall submit to the commission, in such form as the commission may specify, a description of the proposed program of solar energy development which it desires to pursue. The corporation may pursue the program of solar energy development unless the commission, within 45 days after the commission has accepted the filing of the corporation’s description pursuant to this subdivision, orders the corporation to obtain from the commission the authorization to do so as provided in this section. In cases where the corporation seeks to pursue a program of solar energy development with costs and expenses to be passed through to the ratepayers, the corporation may not implement the program until it receives an authorization from the commission which includes findings and a determination, pursuant to subdivision (f), that the program is in the ratepayers’ interest. No such authorization shall be required for any solar energy system which is owned or controlled for experimental or demonstration purposes. As used in this subdivision, “experimental or demonstration purposes” means a limited program of installation, use, or development the sole purpose of which is to investigate the technical viability or economic cost effectiveness of a solar application.
(b) The commission shall deny the authorization sought if it finds that the proposed program will restrict competition or restrict growth in the solar energy industry or unfairly employ in a manner which would restrict competition in the market for solar energy systems any financial, marketing, distributing, or generating advantage which the corporation may exercise as a result of its authority to operate as a public utility. Before granting any such authorization, the commission shall find that the program of solar energy development proposed by the corporation will accelerate the development and use of solar energy systems in this state for the duration of the program.
(c) The commission shall suspend or terminate any authorization granted pursuant to this section whenever it finds and determines that the program of solar energy development no longer qualifies for the authorization under subdivision (b). This subdivision applies to all programs of solar energy development undertaken by a gas or electrical corporation pursuant to this section, including programs undertaken pursuant to subdivision (a) without formal authorization of the commission.
(d) As used in this section, “solar energy system” means equipment which uses solar energy to heat or cool or produce electricity and which has a useful life of at least three years. “Solar energy system” does not include an electric plant as defined by Section 217.
(e) The commission shall prescribe the form of the description required by subdivision (a) by July 1, 1990. The description of the solar energy program filed with the commission shall include, but not be limited to, a showing that the program will not restrict competition, or restrict growth in the solar energy industry, or unfairly employ any financial, marketing, distributing, or generation advantage by the corporation on behalf of the solar energy program.
(f) The costs and expenses of implementing a program of solar energy development proposed pursuant to this section shall not be passed through to the ratepayers of an electrical or gas corporation unless the commission finds and determines that it is in the ratepayers’ interest to do so.
(g) An electrical or gas corporation shall file a written notice with the commission in all cases where one of its subsidiaries seeks to implement a solar energy development program. If an affiliate of an electrical or gas corporation seeks to implement a solar energy development program, the electrical or gas corporation shall notify the commission of its affiliate’s actions annually, in a form prescribed by the commission. If the electrical or gas corporation intends to provide financial, marketing, or distribution assistance to any subsidiary or affiliate thereof in implementing the subsidiary’s or affiliate’s program of solar energy development, the electrical or gas corporation shall obtain authorization from the commission to provide that assistance. Authorization by the commission shall be given in the manner provided in subdivisions (a) and (b), and suspension or termination by the commission may be imposed in the manner provided in subdivision (c).
(h) The commission shall provide public notice of the receipt of any corporation filings submitted pursuant to this section.
(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 339, Sec. 1.)