The California SGIP Program and People with Disabilities

The California SGIP Program and People with Disabilities CA Disaster Strategies presentation 2/12/20 Debby Kaplan This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) • Initiated 2001; longest running incentive program in U. S. • Original purpose was to reduce the load on the electric power grid during peak load times after the energy crisis of 2001 • It initially provided financial incentives for installing alternative power generation, such as solar, and also power storage • Solar installation incentive programs were moved under the purview of the California Solar Initiative in 2006 • In 2009, the focus of the program was changed to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the encouragement of distributed energy resources. • Storage participation has grown significantly since 2016, but there has been little use of money set aside to promote energy storage projects in disadvantaged and low-income communities, defined geographically. 2

September 2019 CPUC Program Expansion Equity Resiliency Fund • CPUC adopted Decision 19 -09 -027 on September 12, 2019 • “Equity and Resiliency Decision” • Increased incentive levels to encourage more participation from low-income groups • Created the Equity Resilience Budget, $100 Million targeted at customers on medical baseline or who have “notified their utility of serious illness or condition that could become life-threatening if electricity is disconnected” • Decision 20 -01 -021 was adopted on January 16, 2020 • Made additional changes to expand eligibility

Equity Resilience Budget Eligibility • Residential customers: • Residing in a Tier 2 or 3 High Fire-Threat District OR whose electricity was shut off during two or more PSPS events • And one of the following: • Already eligible for the equity budget SGIP Program (for low income people); • Eligible for the medical baseline program, as defined in D. 86087, 80 CPUC 182; • A customer that has notified their utility of serious illness or condition that could become life-threatening if electricity is disconnected. • Non-Residential Customers providing critical facilities or infrastructure • ILC’s are specifically included, as defined by Section 796 a of the Rehabilitation Act

What does SGIP do? How does it work? • SGIP provides reimbursement for installation of power storage (such as a Tesla Power Wall) in a residence or building • It doesn’t provide funding for solar panels; different programs do that, and the eligibility criteria for them are different • Each utility administers the program for its service area • Process: 1. Application to participate involves multiple forms, worksheets, affidavits and checklists. Technical information is required. Once approved, the applicant receives a reservation for a potential reimbursement. 2. After installation, a field visit is required and if approved, a reimbursement is provided. This entire process can take a year or two.

Limitations/Barriers to participation • Only available to utility customers – often renters are not the customers • The installation can only be done by an approved contractor, and many will not do energy storage only, without solar • Need to pay the costs before getting reimbursed; some talk of utilities paying in advance for equity resiliency budget • The utility program administrators have no expertise in conducting outreach to people with disabilities or serving them • Difficult for the ordinary customer to provide all required information • Complementary programs for multi-unit buildings and for solar are underfunded and geographically limited

Bottom line • SGIP may benefit some homeowners with disabilities • • Who live in areas affected by 2 or more PSPS shut-offs Who can find an approved contractor to do the work Who get help with the application process More people, if upfront money requirement is removed • ILC’s should explore participating in the program to get their own back-up storage • The equity resilience program was supposed to begin operating on March 1 • For more info: https: //www. selfgenca. com/home/about/