BILL NUMBER: AB 340	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bradford

                        FEBRUARY 13, 2013

   An act to add Section 383 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   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 1.  Section 383 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   383.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the Public
Utilities Commission adopted the Electric Program Investment Charge
(EPIC) pursuant to Decisions 11-12-035 (Phase 1 Decision Establishing
Interim Research, Development And Demonstration, And Renewables
Programs Funding Levels) and 12-05-037 (Phase 2 Decision Establishing
Purposes and Governance for EPIC and Establishing Funding
Collections for 2013-2020).
   (b) To promote greater competition among suppliers of research,
development, and demonstration programs and to expand the available
base and encourage greater economic opportunity for women,
minorities, and disabled veteran owned businesses historically left
out of research, development, and demonstration programs, the
commission shall require all grants, contracts, subsidies, financing,
and activities administered through the EPIC established by
Decisions 11-12-035 and 12-05-037, and related and subsequent
decisions, to comply with General Order 156 of the commission.
   (c) Not later than 2014, the commission shall include a status
report on its compliance with this section in its annual report to
the Legislature.
   (d) Nothing in this section provides the commission with any
authority to order the collection of the moneys consistent with
Decision 11-12-035, Decision 12-05-037, or to increase the amount
collected through the EPIC.