BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1476
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1476 (Padilla)
As Amended August 2, 2010
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :30-0
UTILITIES & COMMERCE 13-0 JUDICIARY
10-0
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|Ayes:|Knight, Buchanan, Carter, |Ayes:|Feuer, Tran, Brownley, |
| |Fletcher, Fong, Fuller, | |Evans, Hagman, Huffman, |
| |Furutani, Huffman, Ma, | |Jones, Knight, Monning, |
| |Skinner, Swanson, | |Saldana |
| |Villines, Bradford | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, | | |
| |Bradford, | | |
| |Charles Calderon, Coto, | | |
| |Davis, | | |
| |De Leon, Gatto, Hall, | | |
| |Harkey, Miller, Nielsen, | | |
| |Norby, Skinner, Solorio, | | |
| |Torlakson, Torrico | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires an investor-owned utility (IOU) or publicly
owned utility (POU) using advanced metering (smart meters) to
protect consumers' energy usage data from an unauthorized access
or disclosure, and prohibits IOUs and POUs from certain
activities.
FISCAL EFFECT : Ongoing special fund costs of about $100,000 to
PUC for one position to monitor IOU compliance with the bill's
requirements. [Public Utilities Reimbursement Account.]
COMMENTS : A smart meter is a two-way communication device
which transmits data back to the utility and negates the need
SB 1476
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for manual meter readings. Also, smart meters enable a utility
to provide customers with detailed information about their
energy usage at different times of the day, which in turn
enables customers to manage their energy use more proactively.
To date, Sempra (SDG&E) is the only California utility that has
a meter interface allowing the customer to access their
electrical usage data through a third-party demand response
provider (i.e. Google Power Meter). According to SDG&E, the
customer cannot use this tool unless the customer relinquishes
control of the data through the utilities' website, and makes
the selection to agree to allow Google to utilize the
consumption data for a commercial use. Later this year, SDG&E
customers will be able to access their consumption data directly
from its Web site.
This bill does not intend to disrupt SDG&E's arrangement but
rather require the utility to provide customers with an
additional means of accessing consumption data without allowing
a third party demand response provider to collect, retain, share
or reuse their electric gas consumption information.
In December 2008, PUC initiated a proceeding (R.08-12-009) to
consider policies for IOUs to develop a smarter electric grid in
the state. Within its smart grid proceeding, PUC will consider
setting policies, standards and protocols to guide the
development of a smart grid system, and facilitate integration
of new technologies, such as, demand-side technologies,
distributed generation, storage and electric vehicles. The
rulemaking will also investigate the contact between the smart
grid and consumers (residential, commercial, industrial,
agricultural) and cyber-security issues which include policies
to ensure customer privacy. On May 21, 2010, PUC rendered a
proposed decision and a final decision should be released later
this summer.
Analysis Prepared by : DaVina Flemings / U. & C. / (916)
319-2083
FN: 0005905