(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) âEnergy Commissionâ means the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. (2) âResidential energy storage systemâ means commercially available technology, located behind a customerâs residential utility meter, that is capable of absorbing electricity generated from a colocated electricity generator or from the electrical grid, storing it for a period of time, and thereafter discharging it to meet the energy or power needs of the host customer or for export. (3) âResidential solar energy systemâ means any configuration of solar energy devices that collects and distributes solar energy for the purpose of generating electricity and that has a single residential interconnection with the electric utility transmission or distribution network. (4) âSolarAPP+â means the most recent version of a web-based portal, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, that automates plan review, produces code-compliant approvals, and issues permits for residential solar energy systems and residential energy storage systems paired with residential solar energy systems. (b) (1) Pursuant to the compliance schedule in subdivision (c), a city, county, or city and county, in consultation with the local fire department, district, or authority, shall implement an online, automated permitting platform, such as SolarAPP+, that meets both of the following requirements: (A) The platform verifies code compliance and issues permits in real time or allows the city, county, or city and county to issue permits in real time to a licensed contractor for a residential solar energy system that is no larger than 38.4 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating and a residential energy storage system paired with a residential solar energy system that is no larger than 38.4 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating. (B) The platform issues permits or allows the city, county, or city and county to issue permits for residential solar energy systems and residential energy storage systems paired with residential solar energy systems that SolarAPP+ is capable of processing. (2) A city, county, or city and county is not required to permit an application for a residential solar energy system or a residential energy storage system paired with a residential solar energy system through the online automated permitting platform pursuant to this section if the system configuration is not eligible for SolarAPP+ at the time the application is submitted to the jurisdiction. (c) (1) A city with a population of fewer than 5,000 and a county with a population of fewer than 150,000, including each city within that county, is exempt from subdivision (b). (2) A city with a population of 50,000 or fewer that is not exempt pursuant to paragraph (1) shall satisfy the requirements of subdivision (b) by September 30, 2024. (3) A city, county, or city and county with a population of greater than 50,000 that is not exempt pursuant to paragraph (1) shall satisfy the requirements of subdivision (b) by September 30, 2023. (d) A city, county, or city and county shall report to the Energy Commission when it is in compliance with subdivision (b). (e) (1) The Energy Commission shall set guidelines for cities, counties, and cities and counties to report to the commission on the number of permits issued for residential solar energy systems and residential energy storage systems paired with residential solar energy systems and the relevant characteristics of those systems. A city, county, or city and county shall annually report to the Energy Commission pursuant to those guidelines within one year of implementing the online, automated solar permitting system pursuant to subdivision (b). This annual reporting requirement shall become inoperative on June 30, 2034. (2) The Energy Commission shall adopt the guidelines required by this subdivision through a public process that shall inclu
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