Energy and Utilities

Energy and Utilities Legislation

Energy and Utilities Legislation

SB 38* (Bowen-D) Electrical restructuring: Independent System Operator

Requires that, within 90 days of the effective date of the bill, the existing Independent System Operator (ISO) and Power Exchange (PE) governing boards be replaced by a three-member independent governing boards of directors appointed by the Governor.

Prohibits a member of the independent governing board appointed by the Governor from being affiliated with any actual or potential participating in any market administered by the ISO or the PE.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 47 (Bowen-D) Electrical restructuring: Independent System Operator

Requires Senate confirmation of members of the Independent System Operator governing board. Extends those members' terms from one year to three years and provides for staggered terms.

Chapter 766, Statutes of 2001

SB 60* (Morrow-R) Electrical restructuring: electric bills: rate ceiling

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to additionally establish a billing procedure to require the separate disclosure on each retail bill of information related to the undercollection of reasonable and prudent costs of providing electric energy to the retail customer unrecovered due to the application of the ceiling. Prescribes the interest rate on any undercollection due to the application of the ceiling. Requires a specified notice in the retail bill.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 10X (Morrow-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 61* (Morrow-R) Electrical restructuring: electric bills: rate ceiling

Authorizes specified customers to elect not to have the current law ceiling (6.5 per kilowatt hour on the energy component of electric bills) apply to their bill. Requires customers who elect to do this to pay the full cost of energy used.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 11X (Morrow-R) and SB 11XX (Morrow-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 77* (McClintock-R) Utility ratepayer relief

Makes legislative findings with respect to the burdens currently being suffered by utility customers. Appropriates $5.3 billion from the General Fund to the State Controller for the purpose of making payments, before May 1, 2001, of $530 to each taxpayer filing a joint or household head income tax return, and $200 to each taxpayer filing a single, married filing separately or surviving spouse tax return.

(In Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee)

SB 102 (Johannessen-R) Water storage facilities: revenue bonds

Provides the State Department of Water Resources with authority to issue up to $10 billion in revenue bonds. Provides $2 billion to create pipeline facilities and electric transmission lines and $8 billion for water storage facilities and as loans to private entities to construct powerplants.

(Failed passage in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee; reconsideration granted)

Similar legislation was SB 12X (Johannessen-R) and SB 12XX (Johannessen-R), which died in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 201 (Speier-D) Public Utilities Commission: division to represent interest

Clarifies the existing role of the Office of Ratepayer Advocate (ORA) within the State Public Utilities Commission and repeals the sunset of the statute providing the ORA's charter.

Chapter 440, Statutes of 2001

SB 203* (Morrow-R) Public utilities

Enacts the Omnibus Distributed Energy Resources and Clean Electricity Act of 2001 to provide a comprehensive framework for the use and management of distributed energy resources in the public utilities system of the state.

(In Senate Environmental Quality Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 35X (Morrow-R), and SB 35XX (Morrow-R), which died in Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

SB 269 (Alarcon-D) Expanded municipal utilities: employee rights and benefits

Prohibits an expanded municipal utility that acquires a public utility from resulting in the displacement, layoff, or reduction in pay or benefits of employees. Requires municipal utilities to honor the labor contract of the public utilities they acquire.

(In Assembly Local Government Committee)

SB 291 (O'Connell-D) Public utilities property

Exempts a telephone corporation that is not regulated based on earnings and does not have its rates and prices based on earnings, from the required State Public Utilities Commission authorization when disposing of, or encumbering, certain property, as specified.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 375 (Johnson-R) Public Utilities Commission: regulation of landscaping

Authorizes the State Public Utilities Commission to regulate landscaping that is in close proximity to or around electrical transmission lines, or transmission facilities.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 405* (McPherson-R) Department of Water Resources: electric power

Appropriates $42.9 million from the General Fund to the Water Resources Development Fund to restore funds that were used to purchase electricity in December, 2000 and January, 2001.

(In Senate Appropriations Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 65X (McPherson-R) and SB 65XX (McPherson), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, and AB 107X (Florez-D), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

SB 431* (Monteith-R) School finance: utility costs

Declares that a county unified school district, with fewer than 3,000 pupils in average daily attendance, may use up to 30 percent of its fiscal reserve for utility costs in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 years.

Chapter 872, Statutes of 2001

SB 497 (Sher-D) Land use: energy conservation

Makes technical, nonsubstantive changes to the provision in existing law that prohibits the enactment of local ordinances that prohibit or restrict the use of solar energy systems, as specified. Contains other non-energy related energy provisions.

Chapter 873, Statutes of 2001

SB 500 (Torlakson-D) Public utilities: rates

Provides electric customers, located within "close proximity" of a powerplant capable of producing more than 50 megawatts of electricity, that was licensed on or after January 1, 1999, with a 20 percent discount on their electricity rates and exempts them from blackouts, or rotating outages.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 531 (Sher-D) California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program

Creates the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program, which requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to certify eligible renewable energy credits for the generation of electricity by an eligible renewable energy resources, as defined.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 532 (Sher-D) Electrical services

Continues the Public Interest Energy Research Program and the Renewable Energy Program for five additional years. Creates the California Renewables Portfolio Standard, aimed at increasing the amount of renewable energy of the overall procurement portfolios of the state's electrical corporations from ten percent to 20 percent by the year 2010.

(Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee)

SB 570 (Morrow-R) Independent System Operator: electric blackout

Requires the Independent System Operator (ISO) to establish a confidential communication system to notify specified entities of the geographical schedule for rolling blackouts when there is a potential of a Stage 3 alert. Permits the ISO to require public utilities and local publicly owned utilities that distribute electricity, to provide communication services for the confidential communication system.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 571* (Morrow-R) Income and bank and corporation taxes

Allows a credit for residents and business equal to the amount of "excessive energy costs" paid or incurred during the taxable year.

(Failed passage in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee; reconsideration granted)

Similar legislation was SB 49X (Morrow-R), which died in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, and SB 49XX (Morrow-R), which failed passage in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.

SB 601 (McClintock-R) Powerplant upgrades

Exempts from environmental laws and reviews, upgrades to powerplants, for plants which have already undergone environmental review at the time of their construction.

(Failed passage in Senate Environmental Quality Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 74X (McClintock-R) and SB 74XX (McClintock-R), which died in Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

SB 602 (McClintock-R) Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Plant Study

Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to contract with a private party, selected through a request for competitive bids, to study the feasibility of state ownership of the Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Plant.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 603 (McClintock-R) Air emissions: exemptions

Exempts the use of "qualified backup generators" used by electric corporations or commercial, industrial or residential customers of any publicly owned electric utility, from any statute or regulation governing air emissions or any penalties for violating those statutes or regulation during any Stage 2 or greater electrical emergency declared by the California Independent System Operator.

(Failed passage in Senate Environmental Quality Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 55X (McClintock-R) and SB 55XX (McClintock-R). which died in Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

SB 645* (Perata-D) Public utilities: uninterruptible electric service

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to also consider the need for an uninterruptible supply of electricity for providers of essential medical services, as specified.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 654* (Haynes-R) Taxation: credits: electricity conservation

Creates a refundable tax credit for individuals and corporations equal to the product of the percentage of the reduction in electricity consumption (not to exceed 25 percent) on a year versus year basis and the person's (or company's) electricity bill for that year. Requires every investor-owned utility to provide, on customer bills, the amount by which the customer has reduced his or her consumption compared to the prior year.

(Failed passage in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee; reconsideration granted)

Similar legislation was SB 54X (Haynes-R) and SB 54XX (Haynes-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 705 (Margett-R) Public utilities: interval meters: large users

Requires a public utility that provides electricity to a large user of electricity, as defined, to measure the amount of electricity that large user of electricity consumes with an interval meter.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 53X (Margett-R) and SB 53XX (Margett-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 742* (Escutia-D) Universal Service Telephone Programs

Provides for an orderly transition of the Universal Service Telephone Programs (USTP) to state fiscal and budgetary control, as required by SB 669 (Polanco), Chapter 677, Statutes of 1999. These programs are the High-Cost A Fund and the High-Cost B Fund Program, the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Program, the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP), the Pay Phone Service Providers Program, and the California Teleconnect Program. Transfer from private trust accounts to special funds in the State Treasury all existing balances and future revenues of USTP (except for the DDTP) on and After October 1, 2001. DDTP existing balances and future revenues are transferred to a special fund in the State Treasury as of July 1, 2002. Allows temporary loans between program funds if authorized in the annual Budget Act.

Chapter 118, Statutes of 2001

SB 863 (Knight-R) Powerplants: military installations.

Classifies a power plant situated on an active or closed military installation as a separate stationary source, if that designation is consistent with the State's Implementation Plan and excludes the power plant from military air pollution calculations. Exempts power plants that use the expedited review process from California Environmental Quality Act requirements. Grants expedited review of any existing or new power plants on military installations that are substantially similar in design and operation to a facility that has received State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission approval prior to January 1, 2001.

(In Senate Environmental Quality Committee)

SB 896 (Poochigian-R) Telecommunications services

Revises the Emergency Telephone Users Exchange Law to conform to the federal Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act, with respect to the taxation of modular telecommunications services.

Chapter 638, Statutes of 2001

SB 996 (Morrow-R) Electrical power plant approval

Provides that any local agency, whose legislative body reviews and approves a development project that includes facilities for generation, transmission, and distribution of electrical power and that is located within its jurisdiction, shall be granted preferential rates and use of the electrical power produced as conditions of approval of the development project.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 76X (Morrow-R) and SB 76XX (Morrow-R), which died in Senate Local Government Committee.

SB 997 (Morrow-R) Public utilities: bilateral forward contracts

Declares certain benefits of long-term contracts. Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to "deem reasonable" and prohibit reasonableness review of an investor-owned utility's power purchase and related contracts, if certain guidelines are met.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 48X (Morrow-R) and SB 48XX (Morrow-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 1003 (Poochigian-R) Energy: protection of agriculture

Requires the State Department of Food and Agriculture, in consultation with other agencies and departments involved in electricity regulation or delivery, to study energy challenges that are specific to agriculture.

(In Assembly Agriculture Committee)

SB 1008 (Perata-D) Public utilities: counties: hydroelectric power

Allows Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties, as members of the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority, to acquire and run existing hydroelectric power facilities without first obtaining the public utility's consent. Requires the investor-owned utility that owns and operates Project 137 to accept an acquisition offer from the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority, if the State Public Utilities Commission finds the terms to be "just and reasonable".

(In Senate Local Government Committee)

SB 1032 (Costa-D) Energy conservation

Establishes the Backup Generation for Mandatory Load Curtailment Program, under the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, for the purposes of minimizing financial barriers for agricultural producers, packers, processors, and water pumpers to install and operate backup generation necessary to prevent severe economic harm during times of involuntary power interruption and to develop, by June 1, 2001, up to 1,000 additional megawatts of curtailable agricultural load that can be utilized by the state to avoid statewide electricity supply disruptions.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 1055* (Morrow-R) Public Utilities Commission: customer priorities

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission, when establishing priorities among types or categories of electrical or gas customers for exemption from rotating blackouts, to consider specified effects.

Chapter 447, Statutes of 2001

Similar legislation was SB 61X (Morrow-R) and SB 61XX (Morrow-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 1056 (Murray-D) Energy conservation assistance

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission, until January 1, 2001, to provide loans, from funds in the account, to long-term health care facilities and residential care facilities for the elderly to finance costs incurred in implementing energy conservation projects. Authorizes the eligible institutions, as defined, to apply for forgiveness of their semiannual payments, as specified.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 1074* (Soto-D) Sales and use tax exemption

Exempts the purchases of microturbines, fuel cells, photovoltaic cells or any other solar cells or panels, solar thermal water heating systems, wind energy equipment, electrical generators operating on renewable biomass fuel from the sales tax.

(In Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee)

SB 1075 (Soto-D) Electrical and gas corporations

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission, in establishing priorities, to consider that public schools and public postsecondary educational institutions shall have access to uninterruptible supplies of electricity.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 3X (Soto-D) and SB 3XX (Soto-D), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 1076 (Soto-D) Public power districts

Makes changes to the rebuttable presumptions applied to the taking of electric or gas public utility property under the exercise of eminent domain. Makes changes to the local agency formation commission approval requirements. Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to provide technical assistance to local and community groups in forming special districts for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.

(In Senate Local Government Committee)

SB 1079 (Battin-R) Thermal powerplants

Exempts thermal powerplants from the siting or construction of a thermal powerplant, known as the Teayawa Energy Center, to be located on trust lands of the federally recognized Torres Martinez Indian tribe in Riverside County.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 59X (Battin-R) and SB 59XX (Battin-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 1110 (Battin-R) Electrical energy: thermal powerplants: permits

Deletes the requirement that the owner or operator of a thermal powerplant demonstrate that the plant will displace electrical generation that produces greater air emissions, as specified, as a condition of the issuance of a permit.

(In Senate Environmental Quality Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 58X (Battin-R) and SB 58XX (Battin-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 1116 (Alarcon-D) Public utilities

Establishes the Low-Income Oversight Board for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of low-income programs. Requires, beginning in 2002, the Low-Income Oversight Board to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of both program implementation and the effectiveness of specific energy efficiency services on a periodic basis. Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to establish the California Alternate Rates for Energy discount at 30 percent and establish eligibility for individuals with incomes at or below 200 percent of the state poverty level or 60 percent of the state median income, whichever is higher.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 1143 (Bowen-D) Energy: renewable energy resources

Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to (1) submit to the Legislature an assessment of the state's need for additional energy resources, as specified, and (2) prepare a plan to increase renewable generation to 15 percent of the state's total generation by 2006 and to 20 percent by 2010.

(On Assembly Third Reading File)

SB 1170 (Sher-D) State vehicle fleet

Establishes a structure to minimize the use of petroleum-based fuels and other transportation fuels by state agencies to encourage the purchase of ultra-low emission vehicles and zero emission vehicles and fuel-efficient replacement tires for the state fleet.

Chapter 912, Statutes of 2001

SB 1172 (Kuehl-D) Municipally owned electric utilities

Permits retail customers or local agencies whose property straddles the service area of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to take electric service for the entire property from a single electrical service provider, up to a limitation of 50 megawatts, and only through July 1, 2002.

Vetoed by the Governor

SJR 7 (Alpert-D) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Memorializes Congress and the President to support legislation to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to (1) order refunds, if rates are unjust or unreasonable, and (2) establish temporary regional price caps, if FERC determines rates are unjust or unreasonable.

(On Senate Inactive File)

SJR 13 (McClintock-R) Yucca Mountain radioactive materials repository

Urges the U.S. Secretary of Energy to expedite the review of the scientific data regarding Yucca Mountain's suitability as a permanent federal repository and make his recommendation to the President this year.

Memorializes the President to move forward with the licensing of Yucca Mountain as an ideal site for a permanent repository.

Declares its intent that, upon successful completion of the federal government's actions finding that Yucca Mountain is an acceptable site for the licensing of a permanent high level waste repository, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Commission) should make an expedited finding that California is ready to accept nuclear facilities certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on sites approved by the Commission for the purpose of providing clean, abundant, reliable and affordable electricity for the families of California.

(Failed passage in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee; reconsideration granted)

SJR 15 (O'Connell-D) Offshore oil drilling

Memorializes the President and Congress of the United States to negotiate a permanent settlement with the leaseholders of the 36 federal oil leases remaining off the cost of California, which will prohibit the development of the leases on the basis that the impacts of developing those leases are not acceptable and to continue the moratorium on new oil leasing.

(At Assembly Desk)

SB 5X* (Sher-D) State energy projects

Appropriates $708.9 million to various state agencies to implement energy efficiency programs and supplement existing energy efficiency programs.

Chapter 7, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session - Item Veto

SB 6X (Burton-D) Calif. Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority

Creates the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority, which is authorized to issue up to $5 billion in revenue bonds to finance electricity generation projects, natural gas transmission and storage projects, and energy efficiency programs.

Chapter 10, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

SB 7X* (Burton-D) Public utilities

Appropriates $400 million to the State Department of Water Resources in order to purchase electricity and make it available to assist in meeting California's energy needs in the short-term, as specified.

Chapter 3, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

SB 9X (Morrow-R) Public Utilities Commission: distributed energy resources

Provides a ten-year waiver of "standby charges" for specified distributed generation installations.

(In Senate Appropriations Committee)

SB 28X* (Sher-D) Energy siting of power plants: unemployment insurance

Contains a series of provisions intended to accommodate increased construction and operation of power plants. Provides a ten-year waiver of "standby charges" for specified distributed installations.

Chapter 12, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

SB 31X (Burton-D) Electric power

Caps the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) revenue bond authority at $13.4 billion with respect to purchase of power, requires repayment to the General Fund be made as soon as practicable and makes other clarifying and technical changes to the DWR's electricity purchase and sales program.

Chapter 9, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

SB 37X (Brulte-R) California Energy Commission: building efficiency standards

Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to investigate options and develop a plan to decrease wasteful energy consumption in existing buildings. Specifies that the plan is to be submitted to the Legislature by January 1, 2002 and shall include recommendations for changes to existing law.

(Died in Senate Appropriations Committee)

Similar legislation is SB 37XX (Brulte-R), which died in Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 41X* (Speier-D) Public Utilities Commission: gas and electricity: baseline

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to take into account the number of inhabitants located at the site of a residential customer and increase baseline quantities accordingly, up to an unspecified maximum number of inhabitants.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation is SB 41XX (Speier-D), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

SB 43X* (Alpert-D) Electric power

Reduces rates for large industrial customers of San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E). Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to establish an initial frozen rate of $.065 per kilowatt hour for all customers SDG&E not subject to Public Utilities Code Section 332.1 (b).

Chapter 5, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

SJR 1X (Karnette-D) Daylight saving time

Memorializes the Congress to approve legislation that allows a state to uniformly apply daylight saving time year-round.

Resolution Chapter 1, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

SB 1XX* (Soto-D) Electric Windfalls Profit Tax: consumer credit

Imposes an Electric Windfall Profits Tax on sellers of energy in California, if the sales price exceeds $80 per megawatt or another amount determined by the State Public Utilities Commission. Specifies that revenues generated from this tax is to be distributed, in equal amounts, to personal income taxpayers in the form of a refundable income tax credit, the California Electricity Consumers Credit.

(Refused passage on Assembly Floor)

Similar legislation was SB 1X (Soto-D), which died at the Assembly Desk, AB 128X (Corbett-D), which died in Assembly Appropriations Committee, and AB 2XX (Corbett-D), which failed passage on the Assembly Floor.

SB 2XX (Alarcon-D) Public utilities

Establishes a Low-Income Oversight Board that will advise the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on low-income electric and gas customer issues and serve as a liaison for the PUC to low-income ratepayers and representatives.

Chapter 11, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

Similar legislation is SB 1116 (Alarcon-D), SB 2X (Alarcon-D), SB 20X (Soto-D), AB 13X (Firebaugh)-D), and AB 62XX (Cox-D).

SB 17XX* (Brulte-R) Income and bank and corporation tax credits

Provides a tax credit for purchase and installation of solar energy systems, as specified.

Chapter 12, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

Similar legislation is SB 365 (McPherson-R), which is in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, SB 17X (Brulte-R), which died at the Assembly Desk, AB 872 (Nakano-D), which died in Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, AB 1264 (Bill Campbell-R), which died in Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, AB 1319 (Cox-R), which died in Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, and AB 62XX (Cox-R), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

SB 18XX* (Burton-D) Department of Water Resources: electricity: bond financing

Requires the revenue bond repayment mechanism for electrical power to include a State Department of Water Resources Bond Set-Aside, as specified.

Enrolled

SB 23XX (Soto-D) Public power districts

Enacts the Fair Citizen Access to Public Power Act, which streamlines the process for formation of public power districts in California.

(Died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee)

SB 24XX (Knight-R) Air pollution: emission reduction credits

Requires upwind districts to grant offsetting emission reduction credits to downwind districts, upon the approval of the downwind district.

(Failed passage in Senate Environmental Quality Committee)

SB 27XX (Bowen-D) Department of Water Resources: power

Allows specified customers of electrical corporations also being served by the State Department of Water Resources to use an alternate provider, subject to payment of DWR's uncollected costs, as specified, and makes related changes.

(In Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 27X (Bowen-D), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

SB 33XX (Machado-D) Gas corporation public utility: eminent domain

Authorizes a gas corporation public utility to exercise the power of eminent domain for the purpose of competing in the offering of natural gas.

(Died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 33X (Machado-D), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

SB 39XX (Speier-D) Public utilities

Clarifies and enhances the state's regulatory authority over in-state electric generation facilities.

(Refused passage on Assembly Floor)

Similar legislation was SB 39X (Speier-D), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

SB 41XX* (Speier-D) Public Utilities Commission: gas and electricity: baseline

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to establish a standard adjustment relative to baseline quantities and requires each electrical and gas corporation to adjust the quantities for a residential customer whose household includes the presence of a dependent child under the age of 18 years, regardless of the number of children.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 49XX* (Morrow-R) Income and bank and corporation taxes: credit

Allows a credit for residents and business equal to the amount of "excessive energy costs" paid or incurred during the taxable year.

(Failed passage in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 49X (Morrow-R), which died in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.

SB 52XX (Chesbro-D) Thermal energy storage: off-peak electricity

Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to analyze the cost-effectiveness of thermal energy storage technologies and determine whether such technologies could help reduce peak energy demand and report to the Legislature by July 1, 2002.

(Died in Senate Appropriations Committee)

Similar legislation was SB 52X (Chesbro-D), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 64XX* (Costa-D) Energy: qualified agricultural biomass: incentive grants.

Changes the definition of facility, as it relates to the Agricultural Biomass-to-Energy Incentive Grant Program, to include a facility that operated prior to July 1, 2000, converting qualified agricultural biomass to energy, was closed for a period of time, but maintained all applicable air quality permits during the closure, and is ready to reopen on or before June 30, 2001.

Chapter 4, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

Similar legislation was SB 64X (Costa-D), which died at the Senate Desk.

SB 68XX* (Battin-R) Electricity: blackouts

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to consider, when establishing priorities in a rotating blackout, the potential effect of extreme temperatures on the health and safety of residential customers.

Chapter 2, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

Similar legislation was SB 68X (Battin-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

SB 75XX* (Ortiz-D) Income taxes: deduction: interest

Allows a tax deduction for interest paid on a loan financed through a public utility company to purchase energy efficient equipment and products for California residences.

Chapter 5, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

SB 78XX (Polanco-D) Electric Utility Rate Stabilization Act of 2001

Provides enabling legislation modifying the proposed memorandum of understanding between Southern California Edison and the Governor.

(Died in Senate Rules Committee)

SB 82XX (Murray-D) Solar energy systems

Requires the State Department of General Services, in conjunction with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, to ensure that solar equipment is installed, no later than January 1, 2007, on all state buildings and state parking facilities where feasible, as specified. Requires solar energy equipment to be installed as part of the construction of all state buildings and state parking facilities that commences after December 31, 2002.

Chapter 10, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

SB 84XX* (Burton-D) Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission

Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to implement a program to provide battery backup power for high priority local traffic control signals.

Chapter 6, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

SB 85XX (Burton-D) Electrical restructuring: rates

Prohibits the State Public Utilities Commission from raising electrical rates back to the pre-ten percent reduction levels solely because the mandatory rate period has expired.

Chapter 7, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

SB 86XX (Peace-D) Powerplant facility and site certification

Authorizes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Commission) to administratively impose a penalty of up to $75,000 or to revoke certification, or both, if a project owner fails to commence construction of a generating facility project within 12 months after the project has been certified by the Commission. Authorizes the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority to evaluate whether to pursue such revoked projects within 90 days.

(Died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee)

SB 87XX (Costa-D) Ethanol: production incentives

Appropriates $25 million from the General Fund to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to implement the Ethanol Production Incentive program, as specified.

(Died Senate Appropriations Committee)

SB 89XX* (Figueroa-D) Retaliation

Prohibits employers (1) from retaliating against employees and other specified entities engaged in the electricity or electricity ancillary services market who, with reasonable cause, disclose information to the Legislature or any committee or member, or other specified entities, about a possible fraud, false claim, anti-competitive practice, unlawful market manipulation or violation of state or federal law or (2) from establishing policies that prevent individuals from disclosing that information.

(Died on Senate Third Reading File)

SJR 2XX (Morrow-R) Electricity pricing

Memorializes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Congress to take various actions to alleviate the high cost of wholesale electric power.

(In Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee)

SR 1XX (Burton-D) Electrical emergency

States that the Senate supports the Governor utilizing the powers granted to him pursuant to Section 8572 of the Governor Code to commander powerplants or power supply contracts, or both, for the purpose of stabilizing wholesale electricity prices and protecting the health and welfare of the citizens of California.

Adopted by the Senate

AB 1 (Aanestad-R) Electrical restructuring: energy efficiency programs

Establishes a process to resolve disputes between an applicant and an electrical corporation in the Large Nonresidential Standard Performance Contract Program, an energy efficiency program funded by the public goods surcharge on electricity consumption.

Chapter 770, Statutes of 2001

AB 30* (Pescetti-R) Electrical restructuring

Extends authority for various contracts, charges and rate reductions related to electrical restructuring. Authorizes electrical corporations to propose cost recovery plans, as specified.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 57 (Wright-D) Electrical corporations: procurement plans

Restructures the reasonableness review process, conducted by the State Public Utilities Commission, for energy procurement contracts of electrical corporations, directs electrical corporations to establish and maintain a diversified procurement portfolio, and makes related changes.

(On Senate Third Reading File)

AB 58* (Keeley-D) Electrical restructuring: Oversight Board

Makes changes to the governing boards of the Independent System Operator and the Power Exchange.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 69* (Wright-D) Electricity: governmental entities in Los Angeles County

Permits specified government entities that are served by Southern California Edison Company, within Los Angeles County, to purchase electricity for use in those areas from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Vetoed by the Governor

Similar legislation was AB 54X (Wright-D) and AB 11XX (Wright-D), which die din Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

AB 71 (Wright-D) Energy

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to study the adequacy of the existing transmission system and the native generation capacity in California.

(In Assembly Appropriations Committee)

AB 140 (Strom-Martin-D) Rural telecommunications infrastructure: grants

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to establish a grant program to extend telecommunication services to low-income communities.

Chapter 903, Statutes of 2001

AB 162 (Daucher-R) Energy: generators

Allows air pollution control districts and air quality management districts to establish guidelines for permitting of electrical power generators by specifying the best available control technologies and other requirements to encourage the use of lower emitting technologies.

(In Assembly Appropriations Committee)

AB 206 (Wyland-R) Municipal utility districts

Requires the participation of at least two public agencies to initiate the process of formation of a municipal utility district, deletes the prohibition on dividing a public agency in the formation of a district, except that a city may not be divided in the formation of a district, and authorizes a county to be considered a public agency for these and certain other related purposes relative to the unincorporated area of a county.

Vetoed by the Governor

AB 219* (Assembly Utilities And Commerce Committee) Deaf and disabled telecommunications program

Extends, until January 1, 2006, the surcharge on intrastate telephone service used to pay for the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program, which provides telecommunications devices and services for the deaf and hearing impaired and for the disabled.

Chapter 109, Statutes of 2001

AB 226 (Bill Campbell-R) Powerplant facilities: incentives

Changes the allocation of property tax revenues derived from new and repowered powerplant facilities and requires the State Public Utilities Commission to issue certain findings during the process of certifying new power generating facilities.

(In Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 49X (Bill Campbell-R), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

AB 460 (Wyman-R) Energy transmission: Path 15

Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to allocate $10 million to the Transmission Agency of Northern California to fund "environmental studies" of Path 15.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation is AB 65X (Wyman-R) and AB 71XX (Dutra-D).

AB 474 (Negrete McLeod-D) Low-income energy efficiency program

Establishes the California Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program. Requires the State Department of Community Services and Development to adopt regulations that will result in reduced rates for low-income gas and electric customers, increased weatherization of energy inefficient homes of low-income persons, and replacement of outdated appliances with energy efficient models for low-income customers.

(In Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee)

AB 497 (Robert Pacheco-R) Renewable energy generation

Appropriates $200 million from the General Fund to the three public higher education segments for a program to make loans to their respective campuses for electricity generating facilities employing emerging technologies. (Emerging technologies are defined to include photovoltaics, solar thermal electric, fuel cells, combined heat and power technologies, and microturbines and wind turbines.)

(In Assembly Appropriations Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 33X (Robert Pacheco-R), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

AB 549 (Longville-D) Building standards

Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to investigate options, develop a plan, and report to the Legislature, by January 1, 2004, on ways to decrease wasteful peak load energy consumption in buildings.

Chapter 905, Statutes of 2001

Similar legislation was SB 37X (Brulte-R) and SB 37XX (Brulte-R), which died in Senate Appropriations Committee.

AB 556 (Jackson-D) Oil and gas development: pipelines

Requires oil produced offshore to be transported to onshore processing facilities by pipeline only and that all pipelines used to transport this oil use best available technology. Authorizes transportation alternatives for oil that is too highly viscous to be practically transported by pipeline.

(On Assembly Inactive File)

AB 569* (La Suer-R) Powerplant siting

Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to authorize the construction and use of generating facilities, as specified, and the repowering use of existing facilities. Requires a report to the Legislature assessing legislative or regulatory limitations on the full utilization of existing powerplant capacity, on increasing powerplant capacity and proposals. Makes numerous changes intended to increase powerplant capacity.

(In Assembly Natural Resources Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 88X (Bill Campbell-R) and AB 79XX (Nakano-D), which died in Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

AB 578 (La Suer-R) Electric power: San Diego Gas and Electric Company

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to establish a payment mechanism for ratepayers of San Diego Gas and Electric, sufficient to allow full payment of the amount in the balancing account established under current law, provides that the amount shall not include any costs that have been determined to be unrecoverable as a result of a PUC prudency review, and states legislative intent that the amount be paid over a five-year period.

(In Assembly Appropriations Committee)

AB 621 (Corbett-D) Public utilities: electricity

Requires the Independent System Operator (ISO) electrical corporations and local publicly owned electrical utilities to notify local air pollution control districts or air quality management districts of all electric customers with whom it has entered into uninterruptible service contracts or similar arrangements. Requires local districts to maintain the ISO information in a confidential manner.

Chapter 862, Statutes of 2001

AB 654* (Horton-D) Personal income and business and corporation taxes

Authorizes a refundable credit, as specified, for the purchase of energy efficient residential appliances and authorizes a deduction for the costs paid or incurred for the installation of energy conservation measures.

(In Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 133X (Horton-D), which died at the Assembly Desk, and AB 25XX (Horton-D), which died in Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee.

AB 695* (Pescetti-R) Sales and use taxes: exemption: energy efficient appliances

Provides a state and local sales and use tax exemption for certain energy efficient residential and commercial appliances.

(In Assembly Appropriations Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 124X (Pescetti-R), which died in Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee,) and AB 52XX (Reyes-D), which died in Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 728 (Correa-D) Public utilities: telephone prepaid debit cards

Requires a toll-free customer service telephone number to call, if a customer wishes to file a complaint with the State Public Utilities Commission.

(In Assembly Business and Professions Committee)

AB 793 (Cox-R) Municipal utility districts: purchases

Authorizes a municipal utility district to procure supplies and materials on the basis of "best value at lowest cost" criteria, when the expenditure exceeds $50,000.

Chapter 665, Statutes of 2001

AB 802 (Dickerson-R) Biomass-to-energy facilities

Exempts, from the timber harvesting plans requirement of the Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973, the removal of small diameter trees and brush for the purposes of supplying forest fuel to biomass-to-energy facilities.

(Failed passage in Assembly Natural Resources Committee; reconsideration granted)

AB 836* (Wyland-R) Retail energy rate increases: reimbursement

Requires the State and Consumer Services Agency (Agency) to establish a program for reimbursement of increased energy costs to consumers during a prescribed period. Appropriates surplus funds, as defined, to the State Controller for allocation to the Agency for payment to consumers to defray excess energy costs, as defined by the Secretary of the Agency.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 113X (Wyland-R), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

AB 870 (Wesson-D) Public utilities: automatic calling equipment

Prohibits, under certain circumstances, the use of certain types of automatic calling devices capable of storing and calling random numbers.

Chapter 696, Statutes of 2001

AB 954 (Kelley-R) Telecommunications: irrigation districts

Authorizes all irrigation districts to enter into the telecommunications service industry. Authorizes all irrigation districts to purchase or lease telecommunications services from any agency or entity and to provide for the acquisition, operation, leasing, and control of equipment and facilities for the distribution, sale, and lease of telecommunications services to any persons and entities.

(In Assembly Local Government Committee)

AB 1031 (Canciamilla-D) Natural gas supplies

Requires long-term forecasts of the demand for natural gas and other specified information to be included in the State Energy Resources and Conservation Development Commission's report to the Governor and the Legislature relative to emergency trends and availability of natural gas.

Chapter 337, Statutes of 2001

AB 1042* (Richman-R) Energy resources

Requires the State Energy Resources and Conservation Development Commission (Commission), within 90 days, to identify the regions within the state with the least favorable supply-demand balance and to request the local government entities with land use and planning authority within those region to identify and submit to the Commission a description of the site or sites within the boundaries of the local government entity that will serve as a potential location for facilities that will address the regional supply-demand imbalance.

(In Assembly Appropriations Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 125X (Alquist-D), which died in Assembly Natural Resources Committee, and AB 24XX (Richman-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

AB 1062 (John Campbell-R) Public Utilities Commission: hearings

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to make public its public hearing schedule on a biannual basis, by posting that schedule on the PUC's web site.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1085 (Calderon-D) Electrical corporations: default service

Permits the State Public Utilities Commission, if it makes certain findings, to implement competitive default electric service for 20 percent of an investor-owned utility's (IOU's) residential and small commercial customers, for a three-year period. Permits a city and county provided default service by an IOU to aggregate the residential and small commercial load of those customers and seek competitive supplies of electricity to serve those customers.

(In Assembly Appropriations Committee)

AB 1138 (La Suer-R) Infrastructure development: low-interest loans

Authorizes the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank to make low-interest loans to private entities for re-powering or construction of power plants up to 150 megawatts. Requires that power from eligible plants be sold only in California, with a right of first refusal offered to the State Department of Water Resources or a public or private utility.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 1150 (Firebaugh-D) Telegraph and telephone corporations

Authorizes a governmental entity that owns property used by telecommunications or information technology corporations to negotiate the purchase, lease or rent of access to rights-of-way and easements on that property.

In Assembly Business and Professions Committee

AB 1200 (Cardenas-D) Public Utilities Commission: telecommunications

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to conduct a study regarding the ways in which to amend, revise and improve rules governing the handling of telecommunications matters.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 1207 (Longville-D) Small wind energy systems

Allows cities and counties to adopt ordinances that permit the installation of small wind energy systems outside defined urbanized areas, specifies the ordinance may require a small wind energy system to obtain a conditional use permit and the conditions that the tower and wind turbine must meet, bans installations on specified sites, and extends deadlines for local officials to July 1, 2008.

Chapter 562, Statutes of 2001

AB 1233 (Pescetti-R) Public utilities: transportation charges

Provides policy guidelines to remove disincentives to in-state production and storage of natural gas.

Chapter 771, Statutes of 2001

AB 1234 (Pescetti-R) Public utilities: natural gas

Requires gas corporations to put gas gathering lines that have been retired, but are still functional, to auction by December 31, 2001.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 117X (Pescetti-R), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

AB 1235 (Pescetti-R) Natural gas: gas corporations: service

Establishes parameters on gas utility customers' ability to switch from noncore service to core service.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 1248* (Daucher-R) Electric service: rates: interruptible programs

Allows any entity continuously enrolled in an interruptible program of an electrical corporation for a year or more that is prevented by existing decision or order of the State Public Utilities Commission from opting out of that program, to opt out as of the effective date of this bill. Waives any fine or penalty accruing to the entity, as specified. Requires that entities opting out of interruptible service contracts not have to pay back any cost savings, pursuant to the program, through the date of opt out.

(In Assembly Appropriations Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 24X (Daucher-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

AB 1249 (Daucher-R) Railroad crossings: pilot projects

Authorizes the communities of Fremont and Newark to test the use of stationary, automated audible warning devices at highway-railroad crossings. Authorizes a pilot project to test supplementary safety measures at railroad crossings.

Chapter 393, Statutes of 2001

AB 1251 (Wesson-D) Independent system operator

Requires each transmission facility owner or operator to report biannually on its compliance with current standards.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1267 (Bill Campbell-R) Energy: generators

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to develop standards governing the access of a small generator to an electric transmission line for the purpose of distributing power. Requires the PUC to grant access to any small generator meeting the requirements of the standards.

(In Assembly Natural Resources Committee)

AB 1269* (Bill Campbell-R) Personal Income and Bank and Corporation Tax: credits

Authorizes a tax credit in an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount paid or incurred during the taxable year for energy-reducing devices, as certified by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.

(In Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 84X (Bill Campbell-R), which died in Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee.

AB 1270 (Bill Campbell-R) Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources: task force

Requires the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources, within the State Department of Conservation, to commission a task force dedicated to recommending policy suggestions on how to increase in-state produced supplies of natural gas.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

Similar legislation is AB 89X (Bill Campbell-R), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

AB 1271 (Bill Campbell-R) Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission

Permits cities, counties, and cities and counties, to implement building standards requiring the use of solar water heating or photovoltaic systems without demonstrating cost-effectiveness to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 93X (Bill Campbell-R), which died at the Assembly Desk.

AB 1272 (Mountjoy-R) Air Pollution: electrical generators

Exempts any electricity-generating unit, used as a secondary source, from all rules and regulations imposed by an air district during any Stage 3 electrical emergency or blackout declared by the California Independent System Operator (ISO). Requires any secondary generating unit used for this purpose, that does not already meet air district rules, to do so by January 1, 2003.

(Failed passage in Assembly Natural Resources Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 56XX (Mountjoy-R), which died in Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

AB 1274 (Bill Campbell-R) Natural gas drilling

Requires a county to review and respond to a natural gas drilling application within 30 calendar days of receipt of the application.

(In Assembly Local Government Committee)

AB 1276* (Bill Campbell-R) Personal income and bank corporation taxes: credit

Expands the definition of qualified taxpayer and qualified property to include taxpayers and property related to certain electric power production.

(In Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee)

AB 1315 (Havice-D) Electricity: interruptible programs: education

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to permit a public or private school for any class or type, through 12th grade, and a public or private postsecondary educational institution that is in the interruptible rate reduction program to opt out of the program during a Stage 2 or Stage 3 emergency, when the energy interruptions of the program interfere with learning.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1350* (Canciamilla-D) Natural gas: producers

States legislative findings and declarations regarding the need for increased natural gas production in California and utilization of the State Public Utilities Commission's dispute resolution process to resolve any disputes arising from implementation of a process governing the connection of natural gas wells.

(In Senate Rules Committee)

AB 1387 (Cogdill-R) Public utilities: natural gas

Requires a gas corporation to approve or deny a request by a gas producer to connect a developed gas well to a utility pipeline within 21 days of the request. Requires all counties to take action on all permit applications related to natural gas wells, natural gas pipelines, and natural gas well interconnections within 21 days.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 105X (Codgill-R), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

AB 1388* (Aanestad-R) Sales and use taxes: gas

Exempts all sales and purchases of propane gas from the sale and use tax.

(In Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee)

AB 1391 (Cardoza-D) San Joaquin Valley

Establishes the San Joaquin Valley Communications Leadership and Information Center Grant and Loan Program in the State Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 1443 (Alquist-D) Public utilities: public agencies

Deletes existing requirements for public agency aggregators to offer the opportunity to purchase electricity to all residential customers within its jurisdiction. Contains numerous other provisions related to a pilot municipal aggregation project in Santa Clara County.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1445 (Pescetti-R) Public utilities: natural gas

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to determine whether the state's natural gas infrastructure is sufficient to provide uninterrupted service to all customers so that no customers may expect to have service curtailed more than once every five years. Requires the PUC to order the expansion of the infrastructure, if it is found to be insufficient to provide this level of service.

(In Assembly Appropriations Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 23XX (Pescetti-R), which died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

AB 1458 (Kelley-R) Telephone service suppliers: surcharge

Revises and recasts the Emergency Telephone Users Surcharge Law to impose a surcharge upon service users for each access line, at an unspecified dollar rate per access line per month. Defines access line to mean, as provided, a switched access or radio access line for voice communication.

(In Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee)

AB 1469* (Leslie-R) Energy: El Dorado Irrigation District: Project 184

Appropriates $7,982.937 from the State Department of Water Resources, for allocation as a loan to the El Dorado Irrigation District, for expenditure for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project 184 in order to accelerate power generation from that project.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1492 (Leonard-R) Nuclear-fueled powerplant

Authorizes the State Department of Water Resources, to the extent permitted by federal law, to acquire property, construct, finance, own, and operate a nuclear-fueled powerplant for the purpose of operating the Edmonston Pumping Plant. Authorizes the issuance of an as yet unspecified amount of revenue bonds to fund the construction of the powerplant and provides that the revenue from the sale of power shall be pledged first to the payment of the principal and interest on the revenue bonds.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1529 (Wyman-R) Transmission lines

Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to establish a procedure for the expedited review of any utility corridor, defined to mean an area in which an electric transmission line, natural gas pipeline and water pipeline converge.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1574 (Lowenthal-D) Energy conservation: building standards: inspections

Authorizes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop measures to enhance energy efficiency for homes that were built prior to the establishment of the current energy efficiency standards and makes related changes.

Chapter 773, Statutes of 2001

AB 1577 (Zettel-R) Powerplant siting

Permits the temporary, expedited, consolidated permits for thermal powerplants, as specified. Implements a procedure for an expedited decision on single cycle facilities. Implements an expedited process for considering utility applications for certificates and permits to construct transmission and substation facilities.

(In Assembly Natural Resources Committee)

AB 1588 (Firebaugh-D) Electric energy: facilities

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to ensure that facilities needed to maintain the reliability of the electric supply remain available and operational, consistent with maintaining open competition and avoiding an overconcentration of market power, without reference to those specific proceedings.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1594 (Wyman-R) Powerplant siting

Increases the current threshold for the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission jurisdiction of energy facility siting from 50 megawatts to 125 megawatts for both new and modified facilities.

(In Assembly Natural Resources Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 64XX (Zettel-R), which died in Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

AB 1650 (John Campbell-R) Electrical corporations: interruptible load programs

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to rescind its interim decision that prevents participants from opting out of the interruptible load program.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 17X (Leonard-R), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

AB 1661 (Pescetti-R) Energy Code: Energy Agency

Enacts the Energy Code. Creates the State Energy Agency (Agency) under the administration of the Secretary for the Agency, who would be appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate. Transfers, to the Agency, all the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the State Public Utilities Commission relating to ownership, operation, control, and management of a line, plant, or light, and power directly or indirectly to or for the public.

(In Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1723 (Escutia-D) State Library: telephonic reading systems

Authorizes the State Librarian to provide toll-free telephone access to telephonic reading systems, for persons with print disabilities, who don't live near a telephone reading center, to call from their homes without paying long-distance telephone charges.

Chapter 654, Statutes of 2001

AB 1724 (Pavley-D) Public utilities: Reliable Electric Service Investments Act

Deletes existing law that is set to begin January 1, 2002, providing that public entities are not eligible to receive customer credits for the purchase of renewable energy and, instead, requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to establish a cap on the amount of funds which may be awarded to public entities from the program that provides customer credits for renewables. Specifies that the intent of the cap is to assume adequate funding of credits for residential and small commercial customers.

Chapter 774, Statutes of 2001

Similar legislation was AB 99X (Pavley-D), which died in Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee.

AB 1734 (Assembly Utilities And Commerce Committee) Telecommunications services

Sets forth a policy for encouraging the development and deployment of infrastructure to support new technologies for provision of telecommunications services in a way that efficiently meets consumer need and encourages availability of state-of-the-art services.

(In Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 1X* (Keeley-D) Power exchanges: Department of Water Resources

Authorizes the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) to enter into long-term power purchase contracts and to sell the power, directly or indirectly, to electric consumers in California. Appropriates a total of $500 million from the General Fund (transfers $495,755,000 to the Electric Power Fund and appropriates $4,245,000 to DWR for the administrative costs in 2000-01). Authorizes DWR to sell revenue bond and repeals a prohibition on electrical corporations from purchasing electricity from any exchange other than the Power Exchange.

Chapter 4, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

AB 3X* (Wright-D) California Alternate Rates for Energy program

Takes numerous measures to increase the penetration level of the California Alternative Rates for Energy program to help minimize the impacts of energy rate increases on low-income and senior households.

Chapter 11, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

Similar legislation is SB 2X (Alarcon-D).

AB 5X* (Keeley-D) Electrical restructuring: Oversight Board

Requires the replacement of the existing governing board of the Independent System Operator (ISO), composed of 26 "stakeholders", with a governing board composed of five members, appointed by the Governor, who must be independent of any ISO market participant. Prohibits the ISO from entering into a multi-state entity or regional organization, unless such a move is approved by the Electricity Oversight Board. Requires the ISO to publish a list of California power plants that are out of service due to either a planned or unplanned outage.

Chapter 1, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

Similar legislation is SB 38 (Bowen-D).

AB 6X* (Dutra-D) Electrical restructuring

Clarifies that publicly utility-owned generation assets remain regulated by the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC), until the PUC authorizes their disposal under Section 851 of the Public Utilities Code. Prohibits the sale of any public utility-owned power plant until January 1, 2006, and requires the PUC to ensure that generation assets remain dedicated to serve for the benefit of California ratepayers.

Chapter 2, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

AB 15X* (Rod Pacheco-R) Income and bank and corporation tax credits

Authorizes a 100 percent tax credit for the costs paid or incurred for energy conservation measures installed and placed in service on qualified property in California.

(Died in Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee)

AB 29X* (Kehoe-D) Energy

Creates various energy efficiency programs through existing delivery mechanisms at the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and the State Public Utilities Commission and provides some new programs through the California Conservation Corps.

Merges provisions of this bill and numerous Assembly bills, AB 40X (Alquist), AB 42X (Cedillo), AB 43X (Correa), AB 66X (Keeley) and AB 83X (Keeley), into a package of energy efficiency measures with a total required appropriation of $408.65 million. Makes provisions for net meteirng and waiver of standby charges for solar or wind customer-generators until January 1, 2003, unless extended by statute.

Chapter 8, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session - Item Veto

AB 31X* (Wright-D) Energy

Provides the opportunity for targeted variances from air district rules and regulations governing standby generation for industrial electrical customers which enrolled in interruptible programs prior to January 1, 2001, and which continue to be in such programs. Clarifies the circumstances under which a breakdown condition at a facility would qualify for an emergency variance.

Chapter 13, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

AB 43X* (Correa-D) Electric power

Clarifies the reduction in the energy component of electric serve rates for large industrial customers of San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E). Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to review rates of Pacific Gas and Electric company and Southern California Edison and adjusts SDG&E's large industrial customer rates up to a statewide average, if determined to be necessary.

Chapter 6, Statutes of 2001, First Extraordinary Session

AB 46X (Canciamilla-D) Air pollution: emission reduction credits

Authorizes the State Air Resources Board (ARB) to establish, until January 1, 2004, an emission reduction credit bank in which air emission reductions achieved as a result of ARB programs are deposited and used to offset emissions resulting from new parking powerplants.

(Died in Senate Environmental Quality Committee)

AB 4XX* (Cardoza-D) Electric power

Requires electrical providers to modify local law enforcement of planned blackouts.

Chapter 3, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

AB 9XX (Migden-D) Electrical restructuring: aggregation

Authorizes customers to aggregate their electric loads as individual consumers with private aggregators, or as members of their local community with community choice aggregators.

Vetoed by the Governor

AB 21XX (Canciamilla-D) Public utilities: eminent domain

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC), at the request of a public utility gas corporation exercising its power of eminent domain for a particular project, to include the local public hearing (which currently is a separate requirement for the project) in the overall procedure for issuing the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity also required for that project. Gives the PUC 45 additional days in the statutory approval process to accommodate the holding of the local hearing as part of that process.

Chapter 14, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

AB 26XX* (Calderon-D) Electrical energy

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission, when establishing new tariffs for customers using distributed energy resources, to consider specified factors so that customers with one or more efficient units pay a lower cost. Extends the operation date of the State Assistance Fund for Energy until July 1, 2011 and requires interest rates on energy loans to be not less than three percent per annum.

Chapter 15, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

AB 27XX* (Lowenthal-D) Long Beach tidelands: gas reserves

Authorizes the State Lands Commission to negotiate contracts with the City of Long Beach, or an oil exploration company that contracts with the City of Long Beach, to provide financial incentives for natural gas exploration and development in the Long Beach tidelands, as specified.

Chapter 1, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

AB 28XX (Migden-D) Electrical restructuring: Oversight Board

Makes changes to the authority of the Electricity Oversight Board, as specified, and establishes reporting procedures for electric generation and transmission facilities related to their availability. Attempts to establish a mechanism for the rational scheduling of planned outages, as well as monitoring, investigation, and enforcement related to unplanned outages.

Chapter 16, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

AB 48XX (Wright-D) Energy conservation

Enacts the Solar Training, Education and Certification Act of 2001, which is a three prong program that fills in gaps of existing state programs designed to encourage the use of solar energy systems.

Chapter 17, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

AB 57XX (Wiggins-D) Municipal utility districts : public agencies

Clarifies the requirement in the Municipal Utility District (MUD) Act that a majority vote may create a MUD, only if the total number of voters in the approving areas within the proposed district is not less than two-thirds of the total voters throughout the proposed district.

Chapter 18, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

AB 61XX (Kehoe-D) Energy

Corrects several erroneous cross-references in statutes created and amended by AB 29X (Kehoe-D), Chapter 8, Statutes of 2001

Chapter 9, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

AB 69XX* (Bogh-R) Public health emergency conditions

Permits the Governor, by executive order, or the Director of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), to suspend enforcement of laws and regulations related to construction or renovation of existing long-term health care facilities in specified situations. Prohibits this bill from permitting the suspension of the life safety requirements of OSHPD and the office of the State Fire Marshal, where the suspension would pose a greater danger than the situation caused by the extraordinary condition and the proposed action the licensee seeks to use to mitigate the potential harm or danger.

Chapter 13, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

AB 86XX* (Florez-D) Diesel fuel tax

Exempts the water portion of a diesel fuel/water emission from the excise tax on diesel fuel. Sunsets January 1, 2007. Revises the definition of diesel fuel.

Chapter 8, Statutes of 2001, Second Extraordinary Session

Index (in Bill Order)