CA AB1947

Authorizes local publicly owned electric utilities to adopt solar programs that allow consumers to offset electricity demand with solar energy systems located off-premises, exempting them from existing on-site requirement restrictions.

Limits off-premises solar systems to a capacity of no more than 5 megawatts, located within the utility's service territory and interconnected at the distribution level.

Restricts utility incentives to the first megawatt of each solar system and requires utilities to either purchase all electricity produced or own the system outright.

Caps total eligible off-premises solar capacity at the lesser of either the combined capacity of on-premises systems installed after July 1, 2010, or 20 percent of the utility's proportionate share of the statewide 3,000 megawatt solar goal.

Requires governing board approval at a publicly noticed meeting for each solar energy system and mandates incentive rates no greater than those provided for on-premises systems under existing solar initiative programs.