COM/JLN/MEG/eap Mailed 9/8/2000

Decision 00-09-036 September 7, 2000

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission's Proposed Policies Governing Energy Efficiency, Low Income Assistance Renewable Energy and Research, Development and Demonstration.

Rulemaking 98-07-037 (Filed July 23, 1998)

INTERIM OPINION: LOW-INCOME ASSISTANCE

PROGRAM POLICIES FOR PROGRAM YEAR 2001 AND

STANDARDIZATION PROJECT (PHASE 1)

(See Attachment 1 for Appearances)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

INTERIM OPINION: LOW-INCOME ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM POLICIES FOR PROGRAM YEAR 2001 AND
STANDARDIZATION PROJECT (PHASE 1) 1

1. Summary 2

2. Background and Procedural History 4

3. LIAB's Compliance with Commission Directives 7

4. LIAB's Recommendations For PY 2001 Programs 12

CARE and LIEE Mission Statements 12

Outreach 14

Leveraging and Coordination with other Organizations and Programs 15

Standardizing Weatherization Programs 16

Specific Program Recommendation 1 16

Specific Program Recommendation 2 18

Specific Program Recommendation 3 21

Specific Program Recommendation 4 21

Specific Program Recommendation 5 22

Specific Program Recommendation 6 23

Specific Program Recommendation 7 25

Specific Program Recommendations 8, 9, 10 and 11 27

Specific Program Recommendations 12, 13, 14 and 15 30

Specific Program Recommendation 16 31

Specific Program Recommendation 17 32

Specific Program Recommendation 18 32

Specific Program Recommendation 19 33

Specific Program Recommendation 20 35

Specific Program Recommendation 21 36

Specific Program Recommendation 22 37

Specific Program Recommendation 23 38

Specific Program Recommendation 24 39

Specific Program Recommendation 25 40

Specific Program Recommendation 26 41

Specific Program Recommendation 27 41

Specific Program Recommendation 28 42

5. LIEE Standardization Project Report (Phase 1) 44

6. Further Direction For LIAB 47

7. Compliance Applications 52

8. Comments on Draft Decision 54

INTERIM ORDER 61

ATTACHMENT 1: APPEARANCES

ATTACHMENT 2: LIST OF ACRONYMS

1. Summary¹

By today's decision we approve the utilities' joint Phase 1 recommendations for standardizing installation standards and other procedures for the Low-Income Energy Efficiency (LIEE) program.² These recommendations are contained in the Phase 1 Report on the LIEE Standardization Project submitted on May 8, 2000 and augmented on July 5, 2000.

Within 30 days of the effective date of this decision, the utilities should jointly file the new weatherization installation standards manual which incorporates both the Phase 1 report recommendations and the follow-up recommendations submitted on July 5, 2000. The utilities should serve a notice of its availability to all appearances and the state service list in this proceeding. This new manual should be used by the utilities in designing their Program Year (PY) 2001 programs, and will become the standard used for all installations in the utility programs beginning January 1, 2001.

As discussed in this decision, the utilities should jointly develop and present a standardized methodology for calculating penetration rates in their PY 2001 applications. We intend to utilize a standardized approach to calculating penetration rates in the evaluation of the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program overall, as well as the CARE Outreach Pilot.

In addition, we direct the utilities to describe their current procedures (audits, process evaluations, polls, etc.) for monitoring program quality, cost efficiency and customer satisfaction for low-income assistance programs. The utilities should present recommendations for improving these procedures or instituting alternative ones, along with the associated costs and manpower requirements. The utilities should also present recommendations regarding stand-alone attic ventilation based on the results of the Attic Insulation Outreach Pilot.

The information described above should be presented by the utilities in compliance applications, to be filed within 60 days from the effective date of this decision. We have already authorized the continuation of the utilities PY 2000 programs and funding through December 31, 2001, and, therefore, no further action is necessary to extend the current programs through 2001. As discussed in this decision, we conclude that further modifications to current programs are not warranted at this time.

We also direct the utilities to develop a standardized customer "bill of rights," including a description of the consumer complaint process, in coordination with some of the issues being addressed in Phase 2 of the Standardization Project. The utilities should jointly develop this document with public input, and present it for our approval no later than the filing of their PY 2002 program applications.

The utilities should also work toward the development of a form that requests the same types and categories of data from all customers enrolling in CARE. The utilities should jointly develop such forms with public input and present them in an Advice Letter filing by March 1, 2001. This will enable us to authorize new forms in time for the June 1 implementation of the new income levels that are developed each year.

We direct the Standardization Project team to explore the Low-Income Advisory Board's (LIAB) Specific Program Recommendations 20, 21 and 28 during the ongoing development of standardized policies and program procedures. We reiterate our expectation that the Standardization Project team's recommendations regarding these issues will be presented to the Commission in time for consideration during the PY 2002 program planning cycle.

Finally, we provide further direction to LIAB regarding its role and assignments. In particular, we clarify what activities are (and are not) assigned to LIAB or its advisory committee in the near term, for which Energy Division will continue to provide assistance. If LIAB desires to meet more frequently or perform additional activities with the assistance of Commission resources, we direct LIAB to seek and receive approval from the Energy Division.