CSI Program Evaluation

Overview | Evaluation Reports | Current Requests for Proposals | Other Evaluation Information

Overview

The CSI Program Evaluation Plan describes the Commission’s structure and implementation strategy for the measurement and evaluation (M&E) of the California Solar Initiative. In addition to facilitating effective management of the CSI program, this CSI Program Evaluation Plan (Evaluation Plan or Plan) supports reporting requirements contained in relevant legislation and Commission decisions. The CSI Program Evaluation Plan and reporting process for the CSI program is consistent with:

• Requirements of Senate Bill (SB) 1 (Murray 2006);
• Commission precedent on program evaluation of previous distributed generation programs;
• Commission decisions in the Distributed Generation and CSI proceedings related to program evaluation; and
• Commission decisions in Energy Efficiency proceedings related to evaluation.

Evaluation Plan

The CSI Program Evaluation Plan is found in Appendix A of the Southern California Edison Advice Letter 2567-E. It helps ensure that the Commission, and by extension the CSI program administrators, manage the CSI in a manner consistent with the intent of the legislature, as well as the Commission’s objectives and directives. The Evaluation Plan is designed to make sure that the CSI program’s impacts are independently evaluated, measured, and verified to provide reliable results for decision makers, resource planners, and program implementers. The Evaluation Plan includes three main elements: 1) Progress Reports; 2) Program Evaluation Reports; and 3) Annual Program Assessments. The current plan replaces the earlier one found in Appendix A of the 7/29/2008 Assigned Commissioner’s Ruling.

Evaluation Reports

• Utility/Program Administrator reports on using AMI for tracking rooftop solar generation (July 2012)
• Technical Potential for Local Distributed Photovoltaics in California: Preliminary Assessment (March 2012)
• CSI SASH & MASH Impact and Cost Benefit Report (August 2011) 
• CSI MASH Biennial Report (June 2011) 
• CSI SASH Biennial Repot (June 2011)
• 2010 CSI Impact Evaluation (June 2011)
• CSI Cost Effectiveness Evaluation (April 2011)
• CSI SASH and MASH Market Assessment Report (April 2011)
• CSI SASH & MASH Program Administrator Performance Assessment Report (March 2011)
• CSI 2009-2010 Process Evaluation Final Report (January 2011) 
• 2009 CSI Impact Evaluation (June 2010)
• CSI Process Evaluation Early Findings (March 2010)
• Impact of Distributed Generation Report (January 2010)
• 2007-2008 CSI Impact Evaluation (February 2010)
• Solar Meter and Market Assessment Report (August 2009)

• Net Energy Metering (NEM) Cost Effectiveness Evaluation (January 2010)

Current CSI Evaluation Studies

• Net Energy Metering Cost-Benefit Evaluation (2012-2013)

Other Evaluation Information

The CPUC is requesting performance data from customers on solar systems that were subsidized by rebates from the State of California-authorized rebate programs, including the California Solar Initiative, the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), the Emerging Renewables Program (ERP) and the Rebuild a Greener San Diego Solar Program. If you have a solar system on your home or commercial building that received any of these subsidies, then the CPUC wants to hear from you.

An effective CSI Program is important for the future success of the solar industry. To successfully gauge the CSI Program’s effectiveness, the CPUC will need performance data information from both large and small systems. The CPUC is requesting your assistance in collecting solar system performance data for systems that you have installed and for which you collect performance data. The collected solar system performance data will be used to understand:

• If the CSI Program is meeting its objective of optimizing solar system performance with incentives that encourage optimal system performance.
• The extent to which solar customers are contributing to electricity peak load reduction. (Answering this question requires 15-minute or hourly data as opposed to daily, monthly or annual production data.)
• The extent to which solar customers are contributing to greenhouse gas reductions.
• How solar system performance varies in different geographical regions.
• The effect of solar customers on California’s electricity grid.
• The cumulative impact of solar projects installed in PG&E, SDG&E and SCE territories.

To ensure the privacy and confidentiality of specific confidential customer and contractor data, all submissions of performance data will be aggregated for reports.

The CPUC and CSI Program Administrators thank you in advance for your consideration and valuable contribution to the program. For detailed information about submitting solar performance data, click here.