BILL NUMBER: AB 2672	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 30, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 27, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 21, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Perea

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to add Section 783.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to energy.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2672, as amended, Perea. Access to energy: disadvantaged
communities: San Joaquin Valley.
    Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has
regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical and
gas 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 commission to establish various programs that provide
assistance to low-income electric and gas customers.
   This bill would require the commission to require a gas
corporation that provides natural gas service in the San Joaquin
 Valley, by January 31, 2015, to identify  
Valley to identify by January 31,   2015, 
disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin Valley that do not have
natural gas service. The bill would require the commission, by March
31, 2015, to initiate a new proceeding to conduct an affordable
energy feasibility study for those communities. The bill would
require the commission to determine whether any option analyzed in
the study would increase access to affordable energy in an
economically viable manner. For these options, the bill would require
the commission to take appropriate action and to determine
appropriate funding sources.
   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.  The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (a) Many low-income communities throughout California's San
Joaquin Valley lack access to natural gas lines.
   (b) Increasing access to affordable energy can improve the health,
safety, and air quality of these communities.
  SEC. 2.  Section 783.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   783.5.  (a)  The   For the purposes of this
section, the following terms have the following meanings:  
   (1) "Disadvantaged community" means an area of the San Joaquin
Valley in which a high concentration of low-income customers of an
electrical corporation are enrolled in the CARE program pursuant to
Section 739.1.  
   (2) "San Joaquin Valley" means the counties of Fresno, Kings,
Madera, Tulare, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Kern. 
    (b)     The  commission shall require
a gas corporation that provides natural gas in the San Joaquin
 Valley, by January 31, 2015, to identify  
Valley to identify by January 31, 2015,  disadvantaged
communities  in the San Joaquin Valley  that do not
have natural gas service. 
   (b)
    (c)  The commission shall, by March 31, 2015, initiate a
new proceeding to conduct an affordable energy feasibility study for
communities identified pursuant to subdivision  (a).
  (b).  The study shall include analysis of the
economic feasibility of the following options:
   (1) Extending gas pipelines to the communities.
   (2) Increasing subsidies for electricity for individuals in those
communities.
   (3) Other alternatives that would increase access to affordable
energy that the commission deems appropriate. 
   (c) 
    (d)  The commission shall determine whether any of the
options analyzed in the study would increase access to affordable
energy in an economically viable manner. For these options, the
commission shall take appropriate action and determine appropriate
funding sources.