Energy and Utilities

Energy and Utilities Legislation

Energy and Utilities Legislation

SB 110 (Dunn-D) Contracts: breach of confidentiality

Establishes a criminal penalty for contractors who misuse proprietary information gained through contracts with state agencies or the Independent System Operator.

(Died on Assembly Inactive File)

SB 230 (Chesbro-D) Universal lifeline telephone service

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to carry out a three-year pilot project designed to encourage competitive telephone companies to provide lifeline phone service to eligible subscribers.

(Died on Senate Inactive File)

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.

(Died in Assembly Local Government Committee)

SB 487* (Costa-D) Telephone services: high cost areas: transfer payments

Appropriates $3,100,000 from the California High-Cost Fund-A Administrative Committee Fund to the State Public Utilities Commission for the purpose of transferring funds to eligible telephone corporations providing services in high cost areas.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

SB 500 (Torlakson-D) Retail merchandise, utilities, and cable television

Requires specified retail, cable television and utility companies to actively provide consumers with a mutually agreeable four-hour time window for service and outlines procedures for appropriate notification if the service appointment is delayed.

Chapter 279, Statutes of 2002

SB 530 (Sher-D) Renewable energy

Reinstates, continues, and modifies components of the Renewable Energy Program Investment Plan and the Public Interest Energy Research.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce 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.

(Died in Assembly Agriculture Committee)

SB 1038 (Polanco-D) Renewable energy

Reinstates, continues, and modifies components of the Renewable Energy Program, Investment Plan and the Public Interest Energy Research, and enacts special provisions allowing the City of Davis and Fresno State University to designate "benefiting accounts" to receive credit for the electricity generated by a particular photovoltaic electricity generation facility and a biomass facility, respectively.

Chapter 515, Statutes of 2002

SB 1078 (Sher-D) Renewable energy

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 10 to 20 percent by the year 2010.

(Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee)

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

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

(Died in Assembly Inactive File)

SB 1269 (Peace-D) Powerplant site and facility certification

Modifies powerplant construction and certification policies of the California Energy Commission.

Chapter 567, Statutes of 2002

SB 1311 (Kuehl-D) Commercial mobile radio service: public safety agencies

Authorizes voluntary agreements between cellular carriers and public safety agencies to give priority telephone service.

Chapter 255, Statutes of 2002

SB 1389 (Bowen-D) Energy: planning and forecasting

Consolidates and updates the California Energy Commission's reporting requirements into one integrated report and requires the reporting of the energy data from all entities that participate in the state energy markets.

Chapter 568, Statutes of 2002

SB 1392* (Murray-D) Solar Energy Systems Bond Act of 2002

Enacts the Solar Energy Systems Bond Act of 2002, which issues bonds for the purpose of financing a program to establish and finance direct loans and loan guarantee programs for small solar energy-related businesses, energy loan buy down programs, local energy assistance grants, and capital outlay for programs that promote energy efficiency and the use of solar energy systems.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SB 1442 (Oller-R) California Environmental Quality Act: air pollution impacts

Requires a lead agency to determine that the environmental impacts of air emissions from a project are not significant if certain conditions are met.

(Died in Senate Environmental Quality Committee)

SB 1511 (Morrow-R) Gas and electrical corporations

Allows competitive bidding for the undergrounding work by allowing cities and counties to select bids from either the utility or other non-regulated contractors to design or install the underground facilities.

(Died in Senate Appropriations Committee)

SB 1519 (Bowen-D) State Department of Water Resources: power

Directs the State Public Utilities Commission to set up a mechanism allowing retail customers of investor-owned utilities (IOU) to buy renewable power, and allows IOU customers to obtain renewable power from alternate providers of electricity via direct access.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

SB 1534 (Bowen-D) Solar energy systems

Requires solar energy systems installed by property owners to meet the most current standards for safety and performance, as specified.

Chapter 570, Statutes of 2002

SB 1550* (Battin-R) Thermal powerplant sites and related facilities: schools

Requires the State Department of Education, by June 30, 2002, under the direction of specified entities, to conduct an evaluation of appropriate siting guidelines for thermal powerplants of an unspecified size near an existing or proposed public school that maintains a kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

(Died in Senate Education Committee)

SB 1553 (Battin-R) Telephone services: extended area service

Requires the California Public Utilities Commission to examine the impact of toll call pricing in the Coachella Valley, consider whether additional options are needed to serve that area, and report to the Legislature by July 2004.

Vetoed by the Governor

SB 1563 (Polanco-D) Telecommunications: services

Expands the Legislature's declaration of the State's telecommunications policy and requires the State Public Utilities Commission to conduct a proceeding to identify reasons why advanced communication technologies are not commonly available and to develop strategies for more widespread deployment of such technologies.

Chapter 674, Statutes of 2002

SB 1601 (Bowen-D) Cellular telecommunications service

Requires cellular telephone companies to provide new customers with a 14-day grace period during which the contract may be rescinded, as specified.

(Died on Senate Inactive File)

SB 1711 (Costa-D) Land use: water and electrical energy facilities

Exempts construction or location of water treatment facilities from local building and zoning ordinances under specified conditions.

(Chapter 267, Statutes of 2002)

SB 1728 (Costa-D) Ethanol: biomass resources

Requires the California Energy Commission to adopt guidelines to establish a program to foster the development of new in-state production facilities to produce ethanol for use as an additive in California transportation fuel. Requires the commission to provide producers of ethanol and other liquid fuels a market-based production incentive, including a greater production incentive for the production of ethanol from cellulose biomass.

(Died in Senate Transportation Committee)

SB 1753 (Bowen-D) Independent System Operator: duties

Requires the Independent System Operator to abide by certain public interest principles, as specified, in managing the transmission grid.

Chapter 847, Statutes of 2002

SB 1790 (Bowen-D) Energy resources

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to develop a program for residential and commercial customer air conditioning load control. Makes several technical and non-controversial changes to the California Energy Commission's Energy Conservation Assistance Programs.

Chapter 601, Statutes of 2002

SB 1823 (Sher-D) Public utilities: Power Exchange

Repeals the statute that creates and defines the purposes of the Power Exchange.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

SB 1863 (Bowen-D) Telecommunications services

Adds to the state's articulated policies for telecommunications. Codifies the language from AB 3643 (Polanco-D), Chapter 278, Statutes of 1994, relating to addressing the "digital divide".

Chapter 308, Statutes of 2002

SB 1876 (Bowen-D) Electrical restructuring

Modifies the electric restructuring law pertaining to public utility holding companies, and retention and sale of public utility electricity generation assets.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

SB 1885 (Bowen-D) Electrical corporations

Makes clear that electric utilities have an obligation to obtain adequate supplies of electricity.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

SB 1903 (O'Connell-D) Commercial mobile radio service providers

Requires cellular telephone service providers to establish a means by which customers can obtain current information on their calling plans and usage.

Chapter 286, Statutes of 2002

SB 1976* (Torlakson-D) Electrical corporations: pricing tariffs

Requires the California Energy Commission to prepare a report on the feasibility of implementing dynamic pricing tariffs for electricity as a way to reduce or shift peak demand. Sets up a process by which an investor-owned utility may obtain a determination that its proposed electricity procurement expenses will be deemed reasonable and, therefore, recoverable from ratepayers, before the procurement expenses are incurred.

Chapter 850, Statutes of 2002

SB 1989 (Knight-R) Small wind energy systems

Requires a local agency that receives a siting application for a small wind energy system within restricted military space, to forward a copy of the application to the governing authority of that airspace and to consider written comments from that authority.

Chapter 328, Statutes of 2002

SB 2000 (Dunn-D) Electric power and natural gas: unlawful practices

Prohibits, with specified exemptions, any person engaged in the business of generating, selling, distributing, transferring, marketing, or trading electricity or natural gas from engaging in or knowingly facilitating specified conduct. Provides that a person found in violation of these provisions will be required to disgorge the profits from the unlawful conduct, and will be liable for, among other things, three times the amount of the disgorgement and attorney fees.

(Died on Senate Inactive File)

SCR 47 (Soto-D) California Electricity Consumers' Bill of Rights

Declares a California Electricity Consumers' Bill of Rights and commends the Cast Metal Association in its support of the policies included in the California Electricity Consumers' Bill of Rights.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SR 7 (Perata-D) Electricity emergency

Urges the Governor to take specified steps to resolve the severe energy crisis and provide to the Legislature by February 20, 2001, a plan to address the energy crisis.

(Died in Senate Rules Committee)

SR 22 (Dunn-D) California energy crisis

Resolves that public policy, and the interests of the public health and safety in connection with the energy crisis continuing in this state, require, and the Senate recommends that each agency or department of the State of California, including, but not limited to, the State Public Employees' Retirement System and the State Teachers' Retirement System, immediately undertake to determine whether that agency or department should continue to own any stocks, shares, or other financial investments in any business entity participating in the wholesale energy market that has refused to comply with the requirements of a legislative subpoena issued by the select committee.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

SR 23 (Peace-D) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Commends the actions of Chairman Pat Wood in helping to temporarily mitigate the unreasonable behavior of wholesale electricity marketers in the West, imposing more realistic market power tests and mitigation, and transforming the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) into a more active and knowledgeable electricity market monitor. Requests that the proceeding currently underway at FERC to determine the amount and obligation of refunds be concluded with full refunds to California purchasers as quickly as practicable. Requests that Chairman Pat Wood ensure that the contracts signed by California with FERC-jurisdictional sellers are reformed under FERC direction to ensure they are just and reasonable.

(Died in Senate Rules Committee)

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

Establishes a process at the State Public Utilities Commission by which an investor-owned utility may obtain a determination that its proposed electricity procurement expenses will be deemed reasonable, and therefore recoverable from ratepayers, before the procurement expenses are incurred, rather than after, as is current practice.

Chapter 835, Statutes of 2002

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

Makes a number of substantive changes to existing net electricity metering rules, including eliminating a sunset on net metering authorization.

Chapter 836, Statutes of 2002

AB 80 (Havice-D) Aggregation: Magnolia Power Project

Authorizes the cities participating in the Magnolia Power Project to aggregate their electricity loads and provide direct electricity access to their residents.

Chapter 837, Statutes of 2002

AB 81 (Migden-D) Property taxation: state-assessed property

Shifts, effective January 1, 2003, responsibility for assessing electric generation facilities with a generating capacity of 50 megawatts or more from local assessors to the State Board of Equalization. Allocates property tax revenue collected from these facilities as though the facilities had been locally assessed.

Chapter 57, Statutes of 2002

AB 117 (Migden-D) Electrical restructuring: aggregation

Allows cities and counties to aggregate their electric loads as community choice aggregators, and provide service directly to their residents.

Chapter 838, Statutes of 2002

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

Requires the California Energy Commission to allocate $10 million to the Transmission Authority of Northern California to fund "environmental studies" of Path 15.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 468 (Firebaugh-D) State property: access: telecommunications

Provides that agreements negotiated by the State Department of Transportation to place wireless facilities on state-owned property or highway rights-of-way shall provide compensation at fair market value.

Vetoed by the Governor

AB 1150 (Firebaugh-D) Telegraph and telephone corporations

Requires the director of the State Department of General Services to compile, maintain and post on the internet, an inventory of state-owned property that may be available for lease to providers of wireless telecommunication services for the location of wireless telecommunication facilities.

(Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee)

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

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to study ways to improve the handling of telecommunication matters before the commission and report to the Legislature by May 1, 2002.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

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

Permits an individual natural gas producer to acquire an easement from a public utility and provides the easement shall be deemed to be held for a public purpose if the State Public Utilities Commission finds the use is in the public interest.

Chapter 839, Statutes of 2002

AB 1235* (Leslie-R) Generation facilities

Exempts four Truckee River hydroelectric projects and two hydroelectric projects located on the Naches River in the State of Washington from the prohibition on sales of electric generating facilities by a public utility that is in effect until January 1, 2006.

Chapter 840, Statutes of 2002

AB 1350* (Canciamilla-D) Gas corporations: condemnation

Allows a competitive natural gas storage company to condemn property using eminent domain power without first having to obtain a separate finding from the State Public Utilities Commission that the action would serve the public interest.

Chapter 39, Statutes of 2002

AB 1391 (Cardoza-D) San Joaquin Valley: Communications Leadership and Info

Establishes the San Joaquin Valley Communications Leadership and Information Center Grant and Loan Program in the Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency to administer a grant and loan program to expand availability of information technologies to growers, processors, distributors, community technology centers, and disadvantaged and low-income communities in the San Joaquin Valley.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 1529 (Wyman-R) State Public Utilities Commission

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to act "as expeditiously as possible," but in no event exceed the Permit Streamlining Act timelines, when reviewing or acting upon an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to authorize the construction of any gas or electric plant, line or extension.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 1561 (Kelley-R) Energy efficiency standards: clothes washers

Requires the California Energy Commission to establish a water efficiency standard for residential washing machines that is at least as water efficient as commercial clothes washers.

Chapter 421, Statutes of 2002

AB 1734* (Assembly Utilities And Commerce Committee) Telecommunications services

Makes changes to the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Commission Program, within the State Public Utilities Commission.

Chapter 61, Statutes of 2002

AB 1881 (Pescetti-R) Solar energy systems

Makes solar thermal and heating technologies eligible for installation on, or adjacent to, new state buildings and parking facilities.

Chapter 561, Statutes of 2002

AB 1899 (Maddox-R) Telephone corporations: disposition of property

Defines property that is "necessary or useful in the performance of its duties to the public" as property that by its nature is integral to the provision of utility service and is used primarily for that purpose. Requires the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to permit telephone corporations to make a filing to dispose of property in accordance with specified procedures. Requires PUC to report to the Legislature concerning the need for PUC to continue to examine telephone corporation property dispositions prior to their completion and the public interest served by that examination.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1918 (Bogh-R) Public utilities: just and reasonable service

Authorizes the State Public Utilities Commission to order a public utility to make appropriate restitution to ratepayers if the commission determines that the method of service rendered by a public utility has resulted in unjust and unreasonable charges to ratepayers.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 1934 (Corbett-D) Telephone corporations: background security checks

Beginning January 1, 2003, requires telephone corporations to perform background checks on applicants who will have access to the telephone network on the customer's premises.

Chapter 183, Statutes of 2002

AB 1968* (Nation-D) Income tax exclusions: energy conservation rebates

Allows a gross income exclusion for rebates, vouchers, or other financial incentives received from specified entities for the installation of certain systems designed to provide the taxpayer's electrical or thermal energy, as specified.

Chapter 843, Statutes of 2002

AB 2062 (Pescetti-R) Energy: agency consolidation

Consolidates several of the state's energy-related functions into a single energy department and establishes a new board with energy ratemaking authority.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 2067 (Nakano-D) Nuclear emergencies: exposure to radioactive iodine

Requires the State Department of Health Services to work with the KI (potassium iodide) working group, coordinated by the Office of Emergency Services, to establish and implement a program to oversee distribution of potassium iodide tablets to all persons who reside, work or attend school within the state-designated emergency planning zone of an operational nuclear power plant.

Chapter 852, Statutes of 2002

AB 2177 (Hollingsworth-R) Public utilities: eminent domain

Considers an electrical corporation that files a petition with the intention of condemning property a local agency under the Public Records Act.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 2228 (Negrete McLeod-D) Public utilities: net energy metering

Establishes a pilot program, until January 2006, for entities producing energy using biogas digester energy systems to participate in utility net metering programs.

Chapter 845, Statutes of 2002

AB 2259 (Kehoe-D) Electrical restructuring: energy efficiency programs

Prohibits more than 2.5 percent of the funds collected through the system benefits charge from being expended for administrative costs, by electrical corporations or other entities whose energy efficiency, renewable energy, and research, development, and demonstration programs are funded pursuant to these provisions. Requires these entities to ensure that not less than 85 percent of the funds allocated to it is expended for direct rebates, purchases, direct installations, buy-downs, loans, or other incentives that will achieve a reduction in peak electricity demand and improvements in energy efficiency.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 2266 (Kelley-R) Municipal utility districts

Provides that municipal utility districts not currently in the electric business retain the authority to enter into the electric business if their directors and constituents approve of the venture, only after approval of the voters within the district's boundaries. Provides that the venture not be cross-subsidized by the district's other services and other customers.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 2284 (Goldberg-D) Telephone corporations: employment

Declares that it is state policy that duties necessary for providing phone service in the State be performed by California residents.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 2467 (Goldberg-D), which died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee.

AB 2307 (Kehoe-D) Electrical corporations: distributed energy resources

Extends the installation deadline to June 1, 2005, for specified distributed generation projects which under current law are eligible for a waiver of utility standby charges until 2011, if they commence operation by June 1, 2003.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 2383 (Diaz-D) Energy: Little Hoover Commission study

Directs the Little Hoover Commission to conduct a comprehensive study regarding energy policy.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 2419 (Canciamilla-D) Energy and Conservation Code

Enacts the general provisions of an Energy and Conservation Code.

(Died in Senate Energy and Communications Committee)

AB 2432 (Rod Pacheco-R) Public Utilities: property: condemnation

Prohibits public utilities from entering real property without authorization from the property owner prior to condemning the property.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 2465 (Canciamilla-D) Independent System Operator: reporting requirements

Requires Independent System Operator to file an annual report to the Legislature and the Electricity Oversight Board.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 2490 (Canciamilla-D) Public Utilities Commission: hearings and reporting

Changes the circumstances under which the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) may extend the deadlines for resolving cases. Requires the PUC to file a report to the Legislature whenever it misses a statutory deadline to resolve a case.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 2511 (Dutra-D) Public utilities: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Auth.

Allows a public entity to avoid project delivery delays in connection with a transit or transportation capital improvement project, by authorizing those agencies, under specific circumstances, to assume utility relocation work from a utility that has abandoned the work.

Chapter 655, Statutes of 2002

AB 2523 (Canciamilla-D) Electrical corporations: rates

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission, if it determines that electric rate increases adopted in May 2001 should be reduced, to ensure that the rate reduction occurs in the same proportion as the percentage increases it adopted in the rate increase order.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 2663 (Wyman-R) Electricity: baseline quantities and rates

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to study the value and feasibility of establishing a separate baseline quantity and rate for seniors.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 2669 (Maldonado-R) Public utilities: stocks and security transactions

Permits telephone companies that are regulated under a specified regulatory structure to issue stock or debt unless the State Public Utilities Commission can prove that the stock issuance would not be in the public interest.

Vetoed by the Governor

AB 2705 (Wyland-R) Excess energy costs: San Diego Gas and Electric

Requires the San Diego Gas and Electric Company to calculate and provide financial relief in the form of reimbursement for the "excess energy costs" borne by those customers and businesses not covered by the imposed rate ceilings, as specified.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 2718 (Oropeza-D) Oil producers

Makes fuel cells and micro-turbines operating on wasted gas eligible for an incentive of $2.50 per watt, if the customer demonstrates that operation of the system will produce a net air quality benefit. Incentives awarded are subject to refund to the extent the fuel cell or micro-turbine does not operate on wasted gas.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 2729 (Wesson-D) Victims of crime: domestic violence counseling

Defines "domestic violence peer counselor" for purposes of the Victims of Crime Program and adds domestic violence peer counselor services for which a direct payment may be made, as specified, and makes related changes in the law.

Vetoed by the Governor

AB 2784 (Chavez-D) Telephone corporations: disabled telecommunications program

Authorizes a licensed optometrist to provide a statement of visual needs in order to allow disabled individuals to apply for and receive specialized telephone equipment.

Chapter 143, Statutes of 2002

AB 2805 (Diaz-D) Public utilities: reports and records

Provides that information made readily available to the State Public Utilities Commission at the public utility's Internet Web site satisfies the requirements of delivering copies.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 2838 (Canciamilla-D) Public Utilities Commission: fees: water rates

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to issue a decision on a water utility company's application for a general rate increase, within a certain time period, as specified. Requires the PUC to establish a schedule to review the rates of water corporations every three years.

Chapter 1147, Statutes of 2002 - Item veto

The Governor reduced the $445,000 appropriation to $222,500.

AB 2898 (Pescetti-R) Telephone corporations: new regulatory framework

Codifies in statute portions of a 1998 decision by the State Public Utilities Commission adopting a new regulatory framework program and associated rules.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 2933 (Wiggins-D) High speed internet access and broadband services study

Requires the State Public Utilities Commission to study the high speed Internet services market to determine whether appropriate legislative action is necessary to ensure widespread availability of high speed Internet services.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AB 2958 (Wright-D) Telecommunications: regulatory framework

Codifies in statute portions of a 1998 decision by the California Public Utilities Commission adopting a new regulatory framework program and price adjustment formula for two major incumbent local exchange telephone carriers.

(Died in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)

AB 3000* (Assembly Budget Committee) State and local government

Is the Omnibus Budget Trailer Bill to general government.

Chapter 1124, Statutes of 2002

AB 3009* (Assembly Budget Committee) Energy surcharge

Authorizes an increase in the cap for the electricity surcharge that funds the Energy Resources Programs Account (ERPA). Increases the cap on the surcharge imposed on electricity sales from two-tenths of a mill to three-tenths of a mill, effective January 1, 2003. The surcharge provides revenue for the ERPA and finances various energy-related programs, primarily for the State Energy Commission. The commission will set the rate annually.

Chapter 1033, Statutes of 2002

ACA 7 (Cardoza-D) State Public Utilities Commission

Requires that the headquarters of the State Public Utilities Commission, the offices of the members of the commission, and the site of all meetings of the commission be located in the City of Sacramento.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

ACA 12 (Papan-D) Public utilities: control

Attempts to mandate state control of the state's electric transmission grid by specifying that the "people of this state have the exclusive right to protect their health, safety, and welfare by ensuring the availability of a reliable, adequate, and affordable supply of electricity," and by prohibiting the Legislature, the State Public Utilities Commission, or any state or local entity from allowing any entity that is not subject to the exclusive authority of the people, through state agencies or political subdivisions, from owning or managing an electric transmission facility.

(Died on Assembly Unfinished Business File)

ACR 2 (Wright-D) Electric power rates

Designates price stability as the first priority of the State regarding the setting of rates for electric power, ensuring the reliability of the State's power grid as the second priority, and establishing the lowest possible prices as the third priority.

(Died in Senate Rules Committee)

ACR 72 (Frommer-D) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to immediately enact price caps, and urges the U.S. Congress to require FERC to conduct a full-scale and detailed investigation of allegations of market manipulation and price gouging and, if evidence of wrongdoing on the part of power generating companies is found, to order those companies responsible to pay the full balance of what the State of California and its utilities have been overcharged. Requests the Federal Energy Management Agency to declare the energy crisis in California a state of emergency and to provide the State with no interest loans to pay off the outstanding debt of California's utilities.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

AJR 45 (Canciamilla-D) Independent System Operator

Urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject a proposed Independent System Operator fee tariff so that electricity load served by customer generation will not incur costs for any transmission-related service beyond those included in standby service rates.

Resolution Chapter 194, Statutes of 2002

HR 5 (Florez-D) State Public Utilities Commission

Requests the State Public Utilities Commission to grant emergency authority for utility companies to exempt agricultural ratepayers in citrus producing counties, including the counties of Kern, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Tulare, Merced, and Stanislaus, from rolling blackouts during the daytime in instances where the temperature is below or is expected to be below freezing.

(Died in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee)

HR 92 (Goldberg-D) Local telephone service

Resolves that it is a necessary and proper state policy to encourage the employment of Californians and discourages the employment of non-Californians by California's telephone corporations. Resolves it is the preference of the State of California, consistent with the federal and state constitutions, that the tasks and duties necessary for the rendering of local telephone service within the state be performed by residents of California.

Adopted by the Assembly

Index (in Bill Order)