BILL NUMBER: AB 2141	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ting

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2016

   An act to add Section 748 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to electricity.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2141, as introduced, Ting. Energy-efficient refrigeration
program: low-income communities.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations.
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 each electrical
corporation and gas corporation to develop and implement a program of
rate assistance to eligible food banks at a fixed percentage to be
determined by the commission and subject to direction and supervision
by the commission. Existing law requires all public utilities to
develop programs, in cooperation with local school districts, to
reduce their electricity and gas bills through conservation and
improvements in efficiency. Pursuant to existing law, the commission
supervises various energy efficiency and low-income targeted energy
efficiency programs administered by electrical corporations, gas
corporations, and third-party administrators.
   This bill would require an electrical corporation to develop a
program, subject to direction and supervision by the commission, that
promotes the placement of free or low-cost energy-efficient
refrigeration in corner grocery stores in low-income communities in
order to provide convenient fresh food options in those communities.
   Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any
order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the
commission is a crime.
   Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and
because a violation of an order or decision of the commission
implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose
a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 748 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   748.  Subject to direction and supervision by the commission, each
electrical corporation shall develop a program that promotes the
placement of free or low-cost energy-efficient refrigeration in
corner grocery stores in low-income communities in order to provide
convenient fresh food options in those communities.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.