BILL NUMBER: AB 1316 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ma
FEBRUARY 27, 2009
An act to amend Sections 382 and 382.1 of the Public Utilities
Code, relating to public utilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1316, as introduced, Ma. Public utilities: low-income
customers.
Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish
a program of assistance to low-income electric and gas customers,
which is referred to as the California Alternate Rates for Energy
(CARE) program. Existing law establishes the Low-Income Oversight
Board for the purpose of advising the commission on low-income
electric, gas, and water customer issues and serving as a liaison for
the commission to low-income ratepayers and representatives.
Existing law requires the commission, with the assistance of the
Low-Income Oversight Board, to conduct periodically an assessment of
the needs of low-income electricity and gas ratepayers. The
Low-Income Oversight Board is authorized to establish a technical
advisory committee and to request utility representatives and the
staff of the commission to assist the technical advisory committee.
This bill would require the commission to report biannually to the
Legislature the results of each assessment. The Low-Income Oversight
Board would be required to review and make recommendations regarding
the proposed budgets for programs provided to low-income
electricity, gas, and water customers. The bill would delete the
authority of the Low-Income Oversight Board to establish a technical
advisory committee. The bill would require the commission to assign
employees of the Division of Ratepayer Advocates to assist the
Low-Income Oversight Board.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 382 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
382. (a) Programs provided to low-income electricity customers,
including, but not limited to, targeted energy-efficiency services
and the California Alternate Rates for Energy program shall be funded
at not less than 1996 authorized levels based on an assessment of
customer need.
(b) In order to meet legitimate needs of electric and gas
customers who are unable to pay their electric and gas bills and who
satisfy eligibility criteria for assistance, recognizing that
electricity is a basic necessity, and that all residents of the state
should be able to afford essential electricity and gas supplies, the
commission shall ensure that low-income ratepayers are not
jeopardized or overburdened by monthly energy expenditures. Energy
expenditure may be reduced through the establishment of different
rates for low-income ratepayers, different levels of rate assistance,
and energy efficiency programs.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit
electric and gas providers from offering any special rate or program
for low-income ratepayers that is not specifically required in this
section.
(d) The commission shall allocate funds necessary to meet the
low-income objectives in this section.
(e) Beginning Commencing in 2002, an
assessment of the needs of low-income electricity and gas ratepayers
shall be conducted periodically by the commission with the
assistance of the Low-Income Oversight Board. The assessment shall
evaluate low-income program implementation and the effectiveness of
weatherization services and energy efficiency measures in low-income
households. The assessment shall consider whether existing programs
adequately address low-income electricity and gas customers' energy
expenditures, hardship, language needs, and economic burdens.
(f) The commission shall report biannually to the Legislature
regarding the results of each assessment conducted pursuant to
subdivision (e).
SEC. 2. Section 382.1 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
382.1. (a) There is hereby established a Low-Income Oversight
Board that , which shall advise the
commission on low-income electric, gas, and water customer issues and
shall serve as a liaison for the commission to low-income ratepayers
and representatives. The Low-Income Oversight Board shall
replace the Low-Income Advisory Board in existence on January 1,
2000. The Low-Income Oversight Board shall do all of the
following to advise the commission regarding the commission's duties:
(1) Monitor and evaluate implementation of all programs provided
to low-income electricity, gas, and water customers.
(2) Review and make recommendations regarding the proposed budgets
for programs described in paragraph (1) prior to approval by the
commission.
(2)
(3) Assist in the development and analysis of any
assessments of low-income customer need.
(3)
(4) Encourage collaboration between state and utility
programs for low-income electricity and gas customers to maximize the
leverage of state and federal energy efficiency funds to both lower
the bills and increase the comfort of low-income customers.
(4)
(5) Provide reports to the Legislature, as requested,
summarizing the assessment of need, audits, and analysis of program
implementation.
(5)
(6) Assist in streamlining the application and
enrollment process of programs for low-income electricity and gas
customers with general low-income programs, including, but not
limited to, the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) program
and, including compliance with Section 739.1.
(6)
(7) Encourage the usage of the network of community
service providers in accordance with Section 381.5.
(b) The Low-Income Oversight Board shall be comprised
composed of 11 members to be selected as
follows:
(1) Five members selected by the commission who have expertise in
the low-income community and who are not affiliated with any state
agency or utility group. These members shall be selected in a manner
to ensure an equitable geographic distribution.
(2) One member selected by the Governor.
(3) One member selected by the commission who is a commissioner or
commissioner designee.
(4) One member selected by the Department of Community Services
and Development.
(5) One member selected by the commission who is a representative
of private weatherization contractors.
(6) One member selected by the commission who is a representative
of an electrical or gas corporation.
(7) One member selected by the commission who is a representative
of a water corporation.
(c) The Low-Income Oversight Board shall alternate meeting
locations between northern, central, and southern California.
(d) The Low-Income Oversight Board may establish a technical
advisory committee consisting of low-income service providers,
utility representatives, consumer organizations, and commission
staff, to assist the board and may request utility representatives
and commission staff to assist the technical advisory committee.
(d) The commission shall assign employees from the Division of
Ratepayer Advocates to assist the Low-Income Oversight Board.
(e) The commission shall do all of the following in conjunction
with the board:
(1) Work with the board, interested parties, and community-based
organizations to increase participation in programs for low-income
customers.
(2) Provide technical support to the board.
(3) Ensure that the energy burden of low-income electricity and
gas customers is reduced.
(4) Provide formal notice of board meetings in the commission's
daily calendar.
(f) (1) Members of the board and members of the technical
advisory committee shall be eligible for compensation in
accordance with state guidelines for necessary travel.
(2) Members of the board and members of the technical
advisory committee who are not salaried state service
employees shall be eligible for reasonable compensation for
attendance at board meetings.
(3) All reasonable costs incurred by the board in carrying out its
duties pursuant to subdivision (a), including staffing, travel, and
administrative costs, shall be reimbursed through the public
utilities reimbursement account and shall be part of the budget of
the commission and the commission shall consult with the board in the
preparation of that portion of the commission's annual proposed
budget.