BILL NUMBER: AB 1434	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Yamada

                        JANUARY 6, 2014

   An act to amend Section 739.8 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to water corporations.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1434, as introduced, Yamada. Water corporations: low-income
relief programs.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including water corporations, as
defined. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and
charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and
charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires the Public
Utilities Commission to consider, and authorizes the commission to
implement, programs to provide rate relief for low-income ratepayers
of a water corporation.
   This bill would instead require the commission to implement a
program to provide rate relief for low-income ratepayers of a water
corporation, as specified.
   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 739.8 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:
   739.8.  (a) Access to an adequate supply of healthful water is a
basic necessity of human life, and shall be made available to all
residents of California at an affordable cost.
   (b)  (1)    The commission shall 
consider and may  implement programs to provide rate relief
for low-income ratepayers. 
   (2) A program pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include a discount
of not less than 20 percent of the low-income ratepayer's total bill
amount.  
   (3) The rate relief shall be made available to all eligible
low-income ratepayers obtaining service from a water corporation
serving water at retail within the area in which the low-income
ratepayer is located. 
   (c) The commission shall consider and may implement programs to
assist low-income ratepayers in order to provide appropriate
incentives and capabilities to achieve water conservation goals.
   (d) In establishing the feasibility of rate relief and
conservation incentives for low-income ratepayers, the commission may
take into account variations in water needs caused by geography,
climate and the ability of communities to support these programs.

   (e) For purposes of this section, "low-income" means a household
with income that is equal or no greater than 200 percent of the
federal poverty guideline level. For one-person households, program
eligibility shall be based on two-person household guideline levels.