SB 998 Summary

• Requires electrical and gas corporations with 100,000 or more service connections to develop and implement on-bill repayment (OBR) programs allowing customers to finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and distributed generation improvements through utility bills.

• Mandates the Public Utilities Commission establish program requirements including project eligibility criteria, energy savings standards, prepayment options, and adequate customer notice and disclosure rules.

• Specifies that on-bill repayment obligations "run with the meter," meaning the repayment obligation transfers to new customers upon acceptance of service and is treated as a utility service payment obligation rather than a third-party debt.

• Requires residential OBR programs to include protections for middle- and low-income customers and adequate disclosure to help customers determine if investments are in their best interest.

• Allows the PUC to order utilities with fewer than 100,000 service connections to establish OBR programs based on individual circumstances and permits program variations across different property categories and utilities.