CA AB2143

Renewable electrical generation facilities and associated battery storage completed after December 31, 2023, that receive net energy metering service under the second standard contract or tariff are designated as public works projects subject to prevailing wage requirements.

Contractors must pay construction workers the general prevailing wage rate and apprentices the applicable apprentice prevailing rate, and must submit certified payroll records to the Public Utilities Commission biannually on July 1 and December 31.

Prevailing wage violations may be enforced by the Labor Commissioner, underpaid workers through administrative complaint or civil action, or joint labor-management committees through civil action.

Facilities where willful wage violations have been enforced become ineligible to receive net energy metering service.

Exemptions apply to residential facilities with 15 kilowatts or less capacity, single-family homes, projects already classified as public works, and facilities serving modular homes or multiunit housing with two or fewer stories.

The Public Utilities Commission must annually publish and submit to the Legislature a report on progress growing distributed energy resources in disadvantaged communities and low-income households, with an aggregated list of facilities receiving net energy metering service by census tract and ZIP Code.