Senate Bill 350 Energy Efficiency Target Setting for Utility Programs

Senate Bill 350 (De León, Chapter 547, Statutes of 2015) requires the California Energy Commission to obtain input from the utilities and the California Public Utilities Commission to establish targets that contribute to the goal of a cumulative, statewide doubling of energy efficiency savings in final end uses by January 1, 2030. This staff paper describes the approach to developing utility energy efficiency savings targets that the Energy Commission will adopt as required by state legislation. Two energy efficiency potential studies – one for investor-owned utilities and one for publicly owned utilities – are adjusted in limited ways to develop preliminary targets. This approach implements the view that all entities delivering energy efficiency savings via market or programmatic activities should expect to enhance their efforts toward achieving the statewide doubling goal. The initial targets described in this paper will be revised in forthcoming proceedings following the periodic review required by SB 350.