BILL NUMBER: AB 1370	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Roger Hernández

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to amend Section 740.8 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1370, as introduced, Roger Hernández. Public Utilities
Commission: policies: ratepayers' interest.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical and gas
corporations. Existing law requires the commission, in cooperation
with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission, the State Air Resources Board, air quality management
districts and air pollution control districts, regulated electrical
and gas corporations, and the motor vehicle industry, to evaluate and
implement policies to promote the development of equipment and
infrastructure needed to facilitate the use of electric power and
natural gas to fuel low-emission vehicles. Existing law requires
those policies to ensure that the costs and expenses of those
programs are not passed through to electric or gas ratepayers unless
the commission finds and determines that those programs are in the
ratepayers' interest, as that term is defined.
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the
definition of ratepayers' interest.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 740.8 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:
   740.8.  As used in Section 740.3,  "interests" of
ratepayers, short- or long-term, mean direct  
"ratepayers' interest," short or long term, means both of the
following: 
    (a)     Direct  benefits that are
specific to ratepayers in the form of safer, more reliable, or less
costly gas or electrical service, consistent with Section 451
 , and activities   . 
    (b)    Activities  that benefit
ratepayers and that promote  energy   all of the
following: 
    (1)     Energy  efficiency  ,
reduction   . 
    (2)     Reduction  of health and
environmental impacts from air pollution  ,  and
greenhouse gas emissions related to electricity and natural gas
production and use  , and increased   . 
    (3)     Increased  use of alternative
fuels.