California

Summary:  California was among the first states to establish a standard interconnection policy for distributed generation. Approved in 2000, Rule 21 applies to CHP and other DG systems up to 10MW. It has been adopted as a model by all three major investor-owned utilities, and follows the established technical guidelines of the IEEE 1547 interconnection standard.

Links:

• For an overview of California's standards, please visit DSIRE.
• To read the details of Rule 21 as it has been adopted by each major utility, visit the California Energy Commission’s description of the rule.
• Visit the CEC’s full Distributed Energy Resource guide for additional information and resources for distributed generation and CHP

Contacts:

Nicolas Chaset
California Public Utilities Commission
State Building
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 703-1184
Phone 2: (800) 649-7570
Fax: (415) 703-1158
E-Mail: nlc@cpuc.ca.gov
Web site: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/

Last Updated 08/03/2009

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Description: The California Energy Commission will provide up to $26 million in loans to schools, hospitals, and local governments for the installation of energy-saving measures or for energy audits and studies. Interest rates are fixed at 3.95% for the term of the loan. The maximum loan amount is $3 million and there is no minimum loan. Loans must be paid back within 15 years from energy costs savings, or in 2 years for energy audits. Common projects include lighting and equipment upgrades and heating systems, but can also include other energy-saving measures and renewable energy systems.

Links:

• See DSIRE for details of this program.

Contact:
Public Programs Office
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS #42
Sacramento, CA 95814-5512
Phone: (916) 654-4147
E-Mail: pubprog@energy.state.ca.us
Website: http://www.energy.ca.gov/

Last Updated 08/03/2009

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Description: SCE’s rate is more demand-based than PG&E’s, which uses a high energy charge to bill actual usage. Both rates are, for the most part, neutral to CHP.

Links:

• SCE’s Schedule S can be viewed here: Tariff
• PG&E’s Schedule S can be viewed here: Tariff
• More information about best practices in utility rate design can be found on the EPA’s CHP Partnership website.

Last Updated 08/03/2009

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Summary: In September of 2007, the California Resources Board amended its Distributed Generation Certification Regulation (Senate Bill 1298), which specifies the emissions regulations that particular generators are subject to. Applicable to distributed generation units manufactured after January 1, 2003, the amended rule indicates that CHP units that meet a minimum efficiency requirement may take a thermal credit against their emissions, equivalent to 1MWh per 3.4 million Btus.

Links:

• The new CARB rules can be viewed here: Regulation
• The original Senate Bill outlining distributed generation regulations: Legislation

Contact:

Jeff Doll
Distributed Generation Certification Program
California Air Resources Board
1001 "I" Street
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento, CA 95812
(916) 324-0343
jdoll@arb.ca.gov

Last Updated 08/03/2009

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