2852.
(a) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) “California Solar Initiative” means the program providing ratepayer funded incentives for eligible solar energy systems adopted by the Public Utilities Commission in Decision 05-12-044 and Decision 06-01-024.
(2) “Low-income residential housing” means either of the following:
(A) Residential housing financed with low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, or local, state, or federal loans or grants, and for which the rents of the occupants who are lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, do not exceed those prescribed by deed restrictions or regulatory agreements pursuant to the terms of the financing or financial assistance.
(B) A residential complex in which at least 20 percent of the total units are sold or rented to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, and the housing units targeted for lower income households are subject to a deed restriction or affordability covenant with a public entity that ensures that the units will be available at an affordable housing cost, as defined in Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code, or at an affordable rent, as defined in Section 50053 of the Health and Safety Code for a period of at least 30 years.
(3) “Solar energy system” means a solar energy device that has the primary purpose of providing for the collection and distribution of solar energy for the generation of electricity, that produces at least one kilowatt, and except for a solar energy device for a nonprofit building, produces not more than five megawatts, alternating current rated peak electricity, and that meets or exceeds the eligibility criteria established by the commission or the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.
(b) In establishing the California Solar Initiative, no moneys shall be diverted from any existing programs for low‑income ratepayers, or from cost‑effective energy efficiency or demand response programs.
(c) (1) The commission shall ensure that not less than 10 percent of the funds for the California Solar Initiative are utilized for the installation of solar energy systems on low-income residential housing. Notwithstanding any other law, the commission may modify the monetary incentives made available pursuant to the California Solar Initiative to accommodate the limited financial resources of low-income residential housing.
(2) The commission may incorporate a revolving loan or loan guarantee program into the California Solar Initiative for low-income residential housing. All loans outstanding as of January 1, 2016, shall continue to be repaid consistent with the terms and conditions of the program adopted and implemented by the commission pursuant to this subdivision, until repaid in full.
(3) All moneys set aside for the purpose of funding the installation of solar energy systems on low-income residential housing that are unexpended and unencumbered on January 1, 2016, and all moneys thereafter repaid pursuant to paragraph (2), except to the extent those moneys are encumbered pursuant to this section, shall be utilized to augment existing cost-effective energy efficiency measures in low-income residential housing that benefit ratepayers.