Section 321.7.

(a) On or before January 1, 2010, and biennially thereafter, the commission, in consultation with the Independent System Operator and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, shall study, and submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor, on the impacts of distributed energy generation on the state's distribution and transmission grid. The study shall evaluate all of the following:

(1) Reliability and transmission issues related to connecting distributed energy generation to the local distribution networks and regional grid.

(2) Issues related to grid reliability and operation, including interconnection, and the position of federal and state regulators toward distributed energy accessibility.

(3) The effect on overall grid operation of various distributed energy generation sources.

(4) Barriers affecting the connection of distributed energy to the state's grid.

(5) Emerging technologies related to distributed energy generation interconnection.

(6) Interconnection issues that may arise for the Independent System Operator and local distribution companies.

(7) The effect on peak demand for electricity.

(b) In addition, the commission shall specifically assess the impacts of the California Solar Initiative program, specified in Section 2851 and Section 25783 of the Public Resources Code, the self-generation incentive program authorized by Section 379.6, and the net energy metering pilot program authorized by Section 2827.9.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 627, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2009.)