Report 2014-124 All Recommendation 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 #1 To: Public Utilities Commission
To make certain that the research program contributes to the goals of the solar initiative, the commission should conduct a program evaluation before the remaining grant projects are completed.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2017
Fully implemented and complete. The RD&D program evaluation was complete. The final report is linked on the RD&D website, under CSI RD&D Program-Program Evaluation, here: http://calsolarresearch.ca.gov/ .
- Completion Date: October 2017
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2016
Partially implemented. The program evaluation is currently being conducted by Evergreen Economics was hired to conduct.
- Estimated Completion Date: 12/30/2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
1-Year Agency Response
We have made progress on this recommendation since our 6-month response in August. Energy Division staff has released an RFP, reviewed bids and held interviews, and chose a contractor to be the CSI RD&D Program Evaluator. That contract was executed in January 2016 and work is beginning in February 2016. The evaluation conducted by Evergreen Economics will focus on comprehensive impacts and outcomes of the program. The final report is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, with the evaluation contract ending December 31, 2016.
- Estimated Completion Date: Q4 2016
- Response Date: February 2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
6-Month Agency Response
Energy Division staff has taken steps to implement this recommendation since the audit. As required by CPUC Decision 07-09-042 which called for a program evaluation of the RD&D program, Energy Division staff worked with the RD&D program administrator and utilities to draft a scope of work for the RFP to solicit a consultant to conduct the RD&D program evaluation. Then, staff circulated the draft RFP to stakeholders for their comments (due 8/12/15). Energy Division will consider any comments, revise the RFP as necessary, and direct one of the IOUs to issue the final RFP within 90 days.
I have sent the draft RFP to Amber Ronan.
- Estimated Completion Date: Q4 2016
- Response Date: August 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented
60-Day Agency Response
The Energy Division has taken steps to implement this recommendation, but it is not yet fully implemented. In early March 2015, we assigned an analyst to draft and issue an RFP to solicit bids to perform the program evaluation. The analyst has also completed an initial call with the program administrator who is responsible for assisting the Energy Division in drafting the RFP for a program evaluator. We are aiming to issue the RFP in Summer 2015.
- Estimated Completion Date: Q1 2016
- Response Date: March 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented
Recommendation for Legislative Action
Because the thermal program has not been successful in meeting the goals outlined in state law, the Legislature should consider whether it wants to continue authorizing the collection of ratepayers' money to fund the program.
Description of Legislative Action
As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2020
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
The Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2019
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
Legislation has not been introduced to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
Legislation has not been introduced to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: January 2017
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
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.
Recommendation for Legislative Action
To learn whether the decal program helps to reduce the State's air pollution, the Legislature should require the Air Resources Board to research whether there is a relationship between decal usage and a change in the State's air quality.
Description of Legislative Action
As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2020
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
The Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2019
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
Legislation has not been introduced to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: February 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
Legislation has not been introduced to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: January 2017
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
Recommendation #5 To: Motor Vehicles, Department of
To ensure that the decal fee is sufficient to reimburse program costs, Motor Vehicles should periodically perform a full cost analysis of the decal program and update the fee accordingly
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From January 2017
Regulations to amend the Clean Air Vehicle Decal fee from $8 to $22 were approved by the Office of Administrative Law on May 9, 2016 and were effective on July 1, 2016. DMV considers this recommendation fully implemented.
- Completion Date: July 2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
1-Year Agency Response
DMV's cost analysis is complete and new rules have been developed to increase the fee to reflect our costs. Subsequently, a regulatory proposal increasing the Clean Air Vehicle Decals fee to $22 was published on January 21, 2016. The public comment period concludes on March 7, 2016. DMV hopes to see the regulations effective July 1, 2016.
- Estimated Completion Date: July 1, 2016
- Response Date: February 2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
6-Month Agency Response
DMV completed the cost analysis and is in the process of completing regulations to update the fee.
- Estimated Completion Date: 08/10/2016
- Response Date: August 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented
60-Day Agency Response
DMV is currently reviewing information as part of the decal cost analysis.
- Estimated Completion Date: 08/10/2015
- Response Date: April 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented
All Recommendations in 2014-124
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.