ALJ/DOT/sid Mailed 8/25/2006
Decision 06-08-028 August 24, 2006
BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Order Instituting Rulemaking Regarding Policies, Procedures and Rules for the California Solar Initiative, the Self-Generation Incentive Program and Other Distributed Generation Issues. |
Rulemaking 06-03-004 (Filed March 2, 2006) |
OPINION ADOPTING PERFORMANCE-BASED INCENTIVES, AN ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE, AND OTHER PHASE ONE PROGRAM ELEMENTS FOR THE CALIFORNIA SOLAR INITIATIVE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
OPINION ADOPTING PERFORMANCE-BASED INCENTIVES, AN ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE, AND OTHER PHASE ONE PROGRAM ELEMENTS FOR THE CALIFORNIA SOLAR INITIATIVE 2
I. Summary 2
II. Background 8
III. Performance Based Incentives and Treatment
of Federal Tax Incentives 11
A. Incentive Levels and Interaction with Federal Tax Incentives 12
1. One Incentive Rate for Residential and Commercial Segments 17
2. Higher Rebate Level for Tax Exempt Entities 19
3. Conclusion 22
B. Performance-Based Incentives for Large Solar Projects 22
1. Size Threshold for PBI 25
2. Time-Differentiated Payments 28
3. Payment Period 29
4. Capacity Factor 30
5. Performance Cap 32
6. Funding Security 34
7. Discount Rate 34
8. Frequency of PBI Payments 36
9. Phase In of PBI Structure 37
10. Conclusion 39
C. Expected Performance Based Buydown (EPBB) Incentives
for Smaller Solar Projects 42
IV. Program Administration 53
V. Metering Requirements 67
A. Metering Quality and Accuracy 69
B. Communicating Solar Performance 74
1. Ensuring Solar Performance is Monitored in 2007 74
2. Independent Performance Monitoring 79
3. Access to Solar Performance Information 80
C. Further Work in CSI Handbook Process and CSI Program Forum 80
D. TOU Tariffs 82
VI. Incentive Adjustment Mechanism 83
A. Incentive Adjustment Mechanism Based Solely
on Volume of MWs 86
B. Incentive Levels May Vary by Utility Territory 89
C. Additional Incentive Adjustments 92
VII. Funding Levels 95
VIII. Energy Efficiency Requirements and Incentives for
Solar Technologies other than PV 107
IX. Comments on Draft Decision 107
X. Assignment of Proceeding 111
Findings of Fact 111
Conclusions of Law 114
ORDER 120
APPENDIX A - PBI Levelized Payment Explanation
OPINION ADOPTING PERFORMANCE-BASED INCENTIVES, AN ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE, AND OTHER PHASE ONE PROGRAM ELEMENTS FOR THE CALIFORNIA SOLAR INITIATIVE
I. Summary
This decision adopts performance-based incentives (PBI) for payments to qualifying solar photo-voltaic (PV) technologies through the Commission's California Solar Initiative (CSI.) In addition, the decision adopts an administrative structure and other program design features for successful implementation of the CSI.
As the Commission prepared to vote on this decision, the Governor signed Senate Bill (SB) 1 into law on August 21, 2006, to take effect January 2007. SB 1 requires the Commission to implement CSI with a number of specific provisions, some of which differ from those in this decision, particularly with regard to total budget dollars and funding from gas ratepayers. SB1 is, however, consistent with many key aspects of CSI as outlined in this decision, particularly the adoption of performance-based incentives. While certain program and budgetary issues may need future modification in light of SB 1, we will move ahead now with this order as drafted to ensure CSI program administration, performance-based incentives, and other crucial program requirements are operational in January 2007. To bring this CSI decision into conformance with SB 1, we direct the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to issue a ruling requesting comments from parties on aspects of SB 1 that will impact the longer-term implementation of the CSI. Our goal is to issue a further order modifying this decision as necessary before SB 1 takes effect on January 1, 2007.
Beginning on January 1, 2007, the Commission will pay PBI for solar projects 100 kilowatts (kW) and larger, with payments based on kilowatt hours (kWh) of solar power produced over a five-year period. Solar projects receiving PBI incentives will be paid a flat per kWh payment, determined monthly and incorporating an 8% discount rate. The Commission will pay incentives to solar projects below 100 kW through an up-front incentive, known as an "Expected Performance Based Buydown" (EPBB), based on an estimate of the system's future performance. EPBB incentives combine the performance benefits of PBI with the administrative simplicity of a one-time incentive paid at the time of project installation. This order adopts the following initial incentive rates for PBI and EPBB payments based on three customer designations--residential, commercial, and government/non-profit:
Table 1: Summary of Initial Adopted Incentive Rates for 2007
Sector |
Maximum EPBB Incentive (per watt) for projects below 100 kW |
PBI Payment (per kwh) for projects 100 kW and larger |
Residential |
$2.50 |
$0.391 |
Commercial |
2.50 |
0.39 |
Government/Non-Profit |
3.25 |
0.50 |
The Commission modifies the single CSI incentive rate of $2.80 per watt adopted in Decision (D.) 06-01-024 in favor of rates tailored to consider the tax effects seen by these three customer groupings. Residential and commercial customers are paid the same incentive rate, despite different tax effects, because they have different payback periods for their solar investments. Tax-exempt government and non-profit entities who do not receive federal tax credits shall receive a higher incentive rate, unless they choose to engage in third-party ownership and financing for their solar projects. In that case, they would receive the lower commercial rate.
These incentive levels will be automatically reduced over the duration of the CSI program in 10 steps based on the volume of megawatts (MWs) of solar installations. We find it is reasonable to link incentive reductions to achieved levels of solar demand. Therefore, as demand for solar rebates reaches the MW levels specified in this order, CSI incentive payments will automatically drop. This approach avoids the risk of incentives dropping prematurely, before the economics of the solar industry reflect growing demand, as would be the case with calendar year reductions. Additionally, the order finds: (1) solar incentive levels may vary by utility service area, depending on the pace of solar demand in each utility's territory; and (2) incentive levels may differ based on demand in the residential and non-residential customer sectors. Thus, the MW targets that trigger automatic incentive reductions are allocated across the utilities and customer segments, as follows:
Table 2
CSI MW Targets by Utility and Customer Class
|
|
PG&E (MW) |
SCE (MW) |
SDG&E (MW) |
So Cal Gas (MW) | ||||
Step |
MW in Step |
Res |
Non-Res |
Res |
Non-Res |
Res |
Non-Res |
Res |
Non-Res |
1 |
502 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
70 |
10 |
21 |
8 |
16 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
100 |
15 |
29 |
11 |
23 |
4 |
9 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
130 |
19 |
38 |
15 |
30 |
6 |
11 |
4 |
8 |
5 |
170 |
25 |
50 |
19 |
39 |
7 |
15 |
5 |
10 |
6 |
230 |
33 |
68 |
26 |
52 |
10 |
20 |
7 |
14 |
7 |
300 |
44 |
88 |
34 |
68 |
13 |
26 |
9 |
18 |
8 |
400 |
58 |
118 |
45 |
91 |
17 |
35 |
12 |
24 |
9 |
500 |
73 |
147 |
56 |
114 |
21 |
44 |
15 |
30 |
10 |
650 |
94 |
192 |
73 |
148 |
28 |
57 |
19 |
39 |
Totals |
1122 |
867 |
332 |
230 | |||||
Percent |
44% |
34% |
13% |
9% | |||||
Table 3
Incentive Levels by MW Step ($/watt)3
Step |
MW in Step |
Gov't/ Non-Profit |
Res |
Commercial |
1 |
504 |
$2.80 |
$2.80 |
$2.80 |
2 |
70 |
$3.25 |
$2.50 |
$2.50 |
3 |
100 |
$2.95 |
$2.20 |
$2.20 |
4 |
130 |
$2.65 |
$1.90 |
$1.90 |
5 |
170 |
$2.30 |
$1.55 |
$1.55 |
6 |
230 |
$1.85 |
$1.10 |
$1.10 |
7 |
300 |
$1.40 |
$0.65 |
$0.65 |
8 |
400 |
$1.10 |
$0.35 |
$0.35 |
9 |
500 |
$0.90 |
$0.25 |
$0.25 |
10 |
650 |
$0.70 |
$0.20 |
$0.20 |
In our initial CSI decision, we endeavored to preserve program simplicity by having a single statewide incentive that adjusted either on a calendar year basis or with demand level, whichever was sooner. We reiterate our commitment to simplicity, but comments from the solar industry, the utilities, and many other parties now persuade us to revise our program design to better accomplish the Commission's long-term solar goals. Therefore, we modify our initial CSI program design to allow incentives to respond to the level of demand for solar rebates, reserve program funds for residential customers, and allow the program in each utility territory to unfold at its own pace.
This order finds that to ensure program continuity, the administrators of the Commission's existing Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), namely Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison Company (SCE), Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and the San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO), should administer all aspects of the CSI program in 2007. Nevertheless, the order finds there are still valid reasons to consider non-utility, or independent, administration for the residential retrofit portion of CSI in the future. In Phase II of this proceeding, the Commission will consider statewide marketing and outreach for CSI and whether the Commission should direct one entity to handle statewide administration of residential retrofit solar programs.
Other notable features of this order include development of a statewide on-line application process and database, drafting of the initial CSI Program Handbook, and creation of a "CSI Program Forum" to provide a further process for stakeholder involvement in the on-going implementation of CSI.
With regard to metering of solar projects, this decision requires accurate solar production meters for all solar projects that receive CSI incentives because accurate measurement of solar output is of paramount importance to ensure optimum value for both solar owners and ratepayers. Systems under 10 kW require a meter accurate to within 5%, while systems 10 kW and larger require a more precise meter accurate to within 2%. The decision sets minimum metering requirements, including a performance reporting capability. Further discussion of technical standards, communication protocols and other specific metering requirements will occur as part of the initial CSI Program Handbook or the on-going CSI Program Forum. Interested parties are encouraged to establish a metering and data committee of appropriate technical personnel from the solar, utility, and metering industries to participate in these discussions.
Incentives for non-PV solar projects and energy efficiency requirements will be addressed in a separate order, as soon as possible.
Finally, the order establishes a future review process where significant features of CSI may be reexamined by the Commission through a future rulemaking.
Staff of the California Energy Commission (CEC) has worked collaboratively with Energy Division staff on all aspects of this proceeding and consulted with the ALJ and the Assigned Commissioner on the issues resolved in this order.
1 Any size project may opt for PBI payments.
2 The first 50 MW are allocated under the 2006 Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) and are not pro-rated by customer class or service territory. In 2006, most residential systems participated in the California Energy Commission's Emerging Renewables Program.
3 The basis for these step changes is discussed in Section VII.B.2.
4 The first 50 MW are disbursed under the 2006 SGIP at a uniform rate of $2.80 per watt.
