AB 340, as introduced, Bradford. Public utilities: Electric Program Investment Charge: disposition.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. The Reliable Electric Service Investments Act required the PUC to require the state’s 3 largest electrical corporations, until January 1, 2012, to identify a separate electrical rate component, commonly referred to as the public goods charge, to collect specified amounts to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, and research, development, and demonstration programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits. An existing decision of the PUC institutes an Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) to fund renewable energy and research, development, and demonstration programs.
This bill would require the PUC to require all grants, contracts, subsidies, financing, and activities administered through the EPIC to comply with General Order 156 of the PUC.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 383 is added to the Public Utilities Code,
2to read:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the Public
4Utilities Commission adopted the Electric Program Investment
5Charge (EPIC) pursuant to Decisions 11-12-035 (Phase 1 Decision
6Establishing Interim Research, Development And Demonstration,
7And Renewables Programs Funding Levels) and 12-05-037 (Phase
82 Decision Establishing Purposes and Governance for EPIC and
9Establishing Funding Collections for 2013-2020).
10(b) To promote greater competition among suppliers of research,
11development, and demonstration programs and to expand the
12 available base and encourage greater economic opportunity for
13women, minorities, and disabled veteran owned businesses
14historically left out of research, development, and demonstration
15programs, the commission shall require
all grants, contracts,
16subsidies, financing, and activities administered through the EPIC
17established by Decisions 11-12-035 and 12-05-037, and related
18and subsequent decisions, to comply with General Order 156 of
19the commission.
20(c) Not later than 2014, the commission shall include a status
21report on its compliance with this section in its annual report to
22the Legislature.
23(d) Nothing in this section provides the commission with any
24authority to order the collection of the moneys consistent with
25Decision 11-12-035, Decision 12-05-037, or to increase the amount
26collected through the EPIC.
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