3.1.5. Solar Water Heating
In D.06-01-024, the Commission allowed a pilot program to test incentives to solar water heating. The Commission directed evaluation of that pilot before allowing incentives to solar water heating on a statewide basis. The pilot was approved by an assigned Commissioner's ruling in February 20075 and is currently underway in the SDG&E service territory, administered by CCSE (formerly the San Diego Regional Energy Office).
In 2007, the Legislature passed AB 1470, also known as the Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act, to promote the installation of solar water heating systems and other technologies that reduce natural gas demand in California. AB 1470 adds Section 2860 et seq. to the Pub. Util. Code, which requires the Commission to evaluate the data available from the solar water heating pilot program in San Diego, and, if it determines that a solar water heating program is cost-effective for ratepayers and in the public interest, to design and implement a program of incentives for the installation of 200,000 solar water heating systems in homes and businesses throughout the state by 2017. In this proceeding, the Commission intends to evaluate the results of CCSE's solar water heating pilot and consider further action as appropriate.
5 See "Assigned Commissioner's and Administrative Law Judge's Ruling Approving Solar Water Heating Pilot Program," February 15, 2007.
