Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 20, § 2701 - Definitions

For the purpose of these regulations, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) AC means alternating current.

(b) Banking means the accumulation of expected annual time dependent valuation (TDV) energy from offset solar energy system(s) for future use in the solar offset program.

(c) Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings means the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards as set forth in the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6.

(d) Climate Zone means the 16 geographic areas of California for which the Energy Commission has established typical weather data, prescriptive packages and energy budgets. The Energy Commission climate zone map is located at: www.energy.ca.gov/maps/building_climate_zones.html

(e) Development -- this article uses the definition of "Development" provided in California Government Code Section 66418.1.

(f) Energy Commission means the State of California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, commonly known as the California Energy Commission.

(g) IOU means investor-owned utility.

(h) kW means kilowatt or 1,000 watts, as measured from the alternating current side of the solar energy system inverter consistent with Section 223 of Title 15 of the United States Code.

(i) MW means megawatt or 1,000,000 watts.

(j) Minimal Shading means that no existing shading obstructions or planned or potential shading obstructions (i.e. such items that are shown on builder's building or landscaping plans but not yet installed or planted) are closer than a distance of twice the height that the obstruction extends above the nearest point on the PV array. Any obstruction that projects above the point on the PV array that is closest to the obstruction shall meet this criterion for the PV array to be considered minimally shaded.

(k) New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP) means the part of the comprehensive statewide solar program, known as the California Solar Initiative, that is applicable to new residential construction in the utility territories of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and Golden State Water Company (doing business as Bear Valley Electric Service). The NSHP provides financial incentives and other support to home builders to encourage the construction of new, energy-efficient solar homes.

(l) Offset Solar Energy System means a solar energy system that is used to meet the requirements of the Solar Offset Program.

(m) Phased Final Map means a Final Map that was filed pursuant to California Government Code Section 66456.1 that covers only a portion or phase of the total area encompassed by a Tentative Subdivision Map for which an application has been deemed complete on or after January 1, 2011.

(n) POU means publicly-owned utility.

(o) Production Home means a single-family residence constructed as part of a development of at least 50 homes per project that is intended or offered for sale. To determine whether there is a "development of at least 50 homes per project":

(1) The number of planned homes identified on a Tentative Subdivision Map for which an application has been deemed complete on or after January 1, 2011, will be aggregated with the number of additional homes identified on any Phased Final Maps that are subsequently filed which cover only a portion or phase of the total area encompassed by the Tentative Subdivision Map.

(2) Under no circumstances will Tentative Subdivision Maps deemed complete prior to January 1, 2011, or Phased Final Maps that were filed prior to January 1, 2011, be considered in this determination.

(p) PV means flat-plate non-concentrating photovoltaic modules.

(q) Reference Solar Energy System means a fictitious solar energy system that is used for calculating expected annual TDV energy equivalency for the Solar Offset Program.

(r) Single-Family Residence -- means "Detached Single-Family Dwelling," as defined in the California Building Code, Title 24, Part 2, Section 202.

(s) 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 1 kW, and not more than 5 MW, alternating current rated peak electricity, and that meets or exceeds the following:

(1) All components in the solar energy system are new and unused, and have not previously been placed in service in any other location or for any other application;

(2) The solar energy system is connected to the electrical corporation's electrical distribution system within the state;

(3) The solar energy system has meters or other devices in place to monitor and measure the system's performance and the quantity of electricity generated by the system; and

(4) The solar energy system is installed in conformance with the manufacturer's specifications and in compliance with all applicable electrical and building code standards.

(t) Solar Offset Program Calculator means a calculator based on the California Energy Commission Photovoltaic (CECPV) model. This calculator incorporates detailed inverter performance modeling and uses weather data from the 16 climate zones in California. The calculator allows a user to select photovoltaic modules and inverters from a library of eligible equipment and generate the estimated monthly kWh production and annual TDV (kWh) production for a specified solar energy system. The Solar Offset Program Calculator, Version 1.0, which is hereby incorporated by reference, is located at: www.energy.ca.gov/2010-SOPR-1/documents/index.html.

(u) Subdivision -- this article uses the definition of "Subdivision" provided in California Government Code Section 66424.

(v) Tentative Subdivision Map means a Tentative Subdivision Map for which an application has been deemed complete on or after January 1, 2011.

(w) Time-Dependent Valuation (TDV) Energy means the time varying energy caused to be used by the building to provie space conditioning and water heating and for specified buildings lighting. TDV energy accounts for the energy used at the building site and consumed in producing and delivering energy to a site, including, but not limited to, power generation, transmission and distribution losses.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 20, § 2701

1. New section filed 3-24-2011; operative 3-24-2011 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2011, No. 12).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 25213, 25218(e), 25218.5, 25405.5(a) and 25405.5(b), Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 25405.5(a) and 25405.5(b), Public Resources Code.

1. New section filed 3-24-2011; operative 3-24-2011 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2011, No. 12).