BILL NUMBER: AB 2672	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 25, 2014
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 27, 2014
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 20, 2014
	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, Perea. Access to energy: disadvantaged communities: San
Joaquin Valley.
   (1) 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, by March 31, 2015, to
initiate a new proceeding to identify disadvantaged communities in
the San Joaquin Valley meeting specified requirements and to analyze
economically feasible options to increase access to affordable energy
in those disadvantaged communities. The bill also would require the
commission to determine whether the options analyzed would increase
access to affordable energy to those disadvantaged communities in a
cost-effective manner. The bill would require the commission, for
those options, to take appropriate action and determine appropriate
funding sources.
   (2) This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as
to the necessity of a special statute for the San Joaquin Valley.


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) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the following meanings:
   (1) "Disadvantaged community" means a San Joaquin Valley community
that meets all of the following criteria:
   (A) At least 25 percent of residential households with electrical
service are enrolled in the CARE program pursuant to Section 739.1.
   (B) Has a population greater than 100 persons within its
geographic boundaries as identified by the most recent United States
Census or a community survey.
   (C) Has geographic boundaries no farther than seven miles from the
nearest natural gas pipeline operated by a gas corporation.
   (2) "San Joaquin Valley" means the counties of Fresno, Kern,
Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare.
   (b) No later than March 31, 2015, the commission shall initiate a
new proceeding to do all of the following:
   (1) Identify disadvantaged communities based on the criteria
specified in subdivision (a).
   (2) Analyze the economic feasibility of the following options:
   (A) Extending natural gas pipelines to those disadvantaged
communities.
   (B) Increasing subsidies for electricity for residential customers
in those disadvantaged communities.
   (C) Other alternatives that would increase access to affordable
energy in those disadvantaged communities that the commission deems
appropriate.
   (c) The commission shall determine whether any of the options
analyzed in the proceeding would increase access to affordable energy
in a cost-effective manner. For these options, the commission shall
take appropriate action and determine appropriate funding sources.
  SEC. 3.  The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is
necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the
meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution
because of the unique circumstance that the San Joaquin Valley is
home to many communities that lack access to natural gas service and
it is necessary to ensure more affordable and cleaner alternatives
are available.