SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all the following:(a) Helping small businesses better manage their energy use can help California reduce energy consumption and thereby help in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases throughout the state.
(b) Small businesses are the backbone of California’s economic prosperity.
(c) Maximizing the demandside energy management programs the state, electrical corporations, gas corporations, and local publicly owned electric and gas utilities offer can help small businesses become more productive and assist in reducing electrical demand during peak demand periods.
(d) To better serve the public, and to benefit the state, the state shall promote and facilitate the fullest possible participation of small businesses to benefit from demandside energy management programs run by the state, as well as any programs of an electrical corporation, gas corporation, or local publicly owned electric or gas utility.