Report 2014-124 Recommendation 1 Responses
Report 2014-124: California's Alternative Energy and Efficiency Initiatives: Two Programs Are Meeting Some Goals, but Several Improvements Are Needed (Release Date: February 2015)
Recommendation #1 To: Public Utilities Commission
To make certain that the research program contributes to the goals of the solar initiative, the commission should conduct a program evaluation before the remaining grant projects are completed.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2017
Fully implemented and complete. The RD&D program evaluation was complete. The final report is linked on the RD&D website, under CSI RD&D Program-Program Evaluation, here: http://calsolarresearch.ca.gov/ .
- Completion Date: October 2017
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2016
Partially implemented. The program evaluation is currently being conducted by Evergreen Economics was hired to conduct.
- Estimated Completion Date: 12/30/2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
1-Year Agency Response
We have made progress on this recommendation since our 6-month response in August. Energy Division staff has released an RFP, reviewed bids and held interviews, and chose a contractor to be the CSI RD&D Program Evaluator. That contract was executed in January 2016 and work is beginning in February 2016. The evaluation conducted by Evergreen Economics will focus on comprehensive impacts and outcomes of the program. The final report is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, with the evaluation contract ending December 31, 2016.
- Estimated Completion Date: Q4 2016
- Response Date: February 2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
6-Month Agency Response
Energy Division staff has taken steps to implement this recommendation since the audit. As required by CPUC Decision 07-09-042 which called for a program evaluation of the RD&D program, Energy Division staff worked with the RD&D program administrator and utilities to draft a scope of work for the RFP to solicit a consultant to conduct the RD&D program evaluation. Then, staff circulated the draft RFP to stakeholders for their comments (due 8/12/15). Energy Division will consider any comments, revise the RFP as necessary, and direct one of the IOUs to issue the final RFP within 90 days.
I have sent the draft RFP to Amber Ronan.
- Estimated Completion Date: Q4 2016
- Response Date: August 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented
60-Day Agency Response
The Energy Division has taken steps to implement this recommendation, but it is not yet fully implemented. In early March 2015, we assigned an analyst to draft and issue an RFP to solicit bids to perform the program evaluation. The analyst has also completed an initial call with the program administrator who is responsible for assisting the Energy Division in drafting the RFP for a program evaluator. We are aiming to issue the RFP in Summer 2015.
- Estimated Completion Date: Q1 2016
- Response Date: March 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented
All Recommendations in 2014-124
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.