installation contracts for reasonableness. We note a similar recommendation was supported earlier in 2014 by CALSSA: that the utilities collect and review installation contracts from solar contractors in the interconnection portal. Today, we will not ask the utilities to review the contracts for reasonableness, but will instead simply direct the utilities to collect the contracts for PPAs, leases, or customerowned systems from solar providers in the interconnection portal and then forward the contracts to Energy Division on a quarterly basis. One of the purposes of Energy Division collecting the contracts will be to ensure that the Commission’s Consumer Affair Branch (CAB) can assist customers that contact CAB and/or file complaints in finding recourse at the appropriate state agency or solar provider. In addition, the contracts will inform the Commission about current trends in solar financing, projected costs and savings, and consumer protections as it embarks on the upcoming NEM revisit rulemaking in 2019 and conducts a lookback evaluation of the NEM successor tariff. In response to the December 8, 2016 Ruling, ORA and Greenlining recommend the Commission fund a centralized clearinghouse for customer questions about solar with a consumer hotline. While we find some merit in this idea, we do not see a clear need or cost justification at this time for a centralized clearinghouse in addition to the information packet, the CSLB Solar Energy System Disclosure document, and the standardized assumptions and inputs for helping customers estimate solar savings. Below, we discuss a possible Memorandum of Understanding with other state agencies to coordinate resources and responses to the need for consumer protections for solar customers. The consumer hotline is an idea that may make sense to explore in concert with other state agencies.
installation contracts for reasonableness. We note a similar recommendation was supported earlier in 2014 by CALSSA: that the utilities collect and review installation contracts from solar contractors in the interconnection portal. Today, we will not ask the utilities to review the contracts for reasonableness, but will instead simply direct the utilities to collect the contracts for PPAs, leases, or customerowned systems from solar providers in the interconnection portal and then forward the contracts to Energy Division on a quarterly basis. One of the purposes of Energy Division collecting the contracts will be to ensure that the Commission’s Consumer Affair Branch (CAB) can assist customers that contact CAB and/or file complaints in finding recourse at the appropriate state agency or solar provider. In addition, the contracts will inform the Commission about current trends in solar financing, projected costs and savings, and consumer protections as it embarks on the upcoming NEM revisit rulemaking in 2019 and conducts a lookback evaluation of the NEM successor tariff. In response to the December 8, 2016 Ruling, ORA and Greenlining recommend the Commission fund a centralized clearinghouse for customer questions about solar with a consumer hotline. While we find some merit in this idea, we do not see a clear need or cost justification at this time for a centralized clearinghouse in addition to the information packet, the CSLB Solar Energy System Disclosure document, and the standardized assumptions and inputs for helping customers estimate solar savings. Below, we discuss a possible Memorandum of Understanding with other state agencies to coordinate resources and responses to the need for consumer protections for solar customers. The consumer hotline is an idea that may make sense to explore in concert with other state agencies.
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