Report 2014-124 Recommendation 3 Responses
Report 2014-124: California's Alternative Energy and Efficiency Initiatives: Two Programs Are Meeting Some Goals, but Several Improvements Are Needed (Release Date: February 2015)
Recommendation #3 To: Public Utilities Commission
To show how air pollution emissions reductions related to the solar initiative benefit the State, the commission should include in future reports the measurable benefits of those reductions.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021
On January 28, 2021, Verdant Associates (formally Itron, Inc.) published the CSI Final Impact Evaluation.
https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/energy-division/documents/csi-progress-reports/csi-2/csi_evaluation-report.pdf
In the final report, Section 4.3.4 Environmental Impacts (P.73-76), the independent evaluators documented the program's environmental impacts, including the GHG impacts and carbon dioxide (CO2) associated with the operation of PV systems installed under the program.
- Completion Date: January 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2020
PG&E awarded a contract to Itron, Inc. in 2018 for an evaluation of the CSI program, which included its evaluation and assessment of the measurable air pollution emissions reductions associated with the program. Itron has provided a draft report to the CPUC. The report is undergoing final management review and is anticipated to be publicly released this Fall.
- Estimated Completion Date: 11/15/2020
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2019
PG&E awarded a contract to Itron in 2018 for an evaluation of the CSI program, which will include its evaluation and assessment of the measurable air pollution emissions reductions associated with the program. The evaluator has been working on the draft evaluation for the past year. The draft evaluation report is expected in November 2019 to CPUC and to be public in December 2019.
- Completion Date: December 2019
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
We will consider this recommendation as pending until CPUC publishes its report and we are able to evaluate whether the report includes the measurable benefits of air pollution emissions reductions related to the solar initiative.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2018
PG&E awarded a contract to Itron in 2018 for an evaluation of the CSI program, which will include its evaluation and assessment of the measurable air pollution emissions reductions associated with the program. The draft evaluation is expected in Q2 2019.
- Completion Date: June 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
Until the evaluation is complete and CPUC reports the measurable benefits, we will consider this recommendation as partially implemented.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2017
Partially implemented. Because of the CPUC's contracts office understaffing issue, there has been a significant delay in issuing RFPs. To expedite the RFP process, we have decided to have an IOU issue the RFP instead. PG&E is now in charge of issuing the RFP, and they expect to issue it by the end of the year or early 2018.
- Estimated Completion Date: 6/30/2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2016
Partially implemented. Energy Division staff is currently completing the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the final solar initiative Impact Evaluation, which will include this item in its scope of work. Staff's next step is to submit the RFP to the CPUC's contract office to issue.
- Estimated Completion Date: 7/1/2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
1-Year Agency Response
This recommendation requires that we scope into a future solar initiative evaluation report an analysis of air pollution emission reduction benefits of the program. Currently, we expect to conduct the next and final program evaluation in 2017, after the solar initiative program ends. We have taken no action on this recommendation since the audit.
- Estimated Completion Date: Q4 2017
- Response Date: February 2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken
The response from the Public Utilities Commission indicates that an evaluation will not take place until 2017. Therefore, no action has been taken at this time.
6-Month Agency Response
This recommendation requires that we scope into a future solar initiative evaluation report an analysis of air pollution emission reduction benefits of the program. Currently, we expect to conduct the next and final program evaluation in 2017, after the solar initiative program ends. We have taken no action on this recommendation since the audit.
- Estimated Completion Date: Q4 2017
- Response Date: August 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken
The response from the Public Utilities Commission indicates that an evaluation will not take place until 2017. Therefore, no action has been taken at this time.
60-Day Agency Response
This recommendation requires that we scope into a future solar initiative evaluation report an analysis of air pollution emission reduction benefits of the program. Currently, we expect to conduct the next and final program evaluation in 2017, after the solar initiative program ends.
- Estimated Completion Date: Q4 2017
- Response Date: March 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken
The response from the Public Utilities Commission indicates that an evaluation will not take place until 2017. Therefore, no action has been taken at this time.
All Recommendations in 2014-124
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.