BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1879
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1879 (Beall)
As Amended April 8, 2010
Majority vote
UTILITIES & COMMERCE 14-0
APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Knight, Tom Berryhill, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Ammiano, |
| |Buchanan, Carter, | |Bradford, |
| |Fletcher, Fong, Fuller, | |Charles Calderon, Coto, |
| |Furutani, Huffman, Ma, | |Davis, Monning, Ruskin, |
| |Skinner, Swanson, | |Skinner, Solorio, |
| |Villines, Bradford | |Torlakson, Torrico |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | |Nays:|Conway, Harkey, Miller, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) to open a proceeding to examine whether the three year
limit on billing adjustments for meter and billing errors is an
appropriate timeframe for small commercial customers of gas and
electrical corporations.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, absorbable cost to CPUC, which has already opened a
proceeding on this issue. [Public Utilities Reimbursement
Account]
COMMENTS : The utilities' tariffs are authorized by CPUC and
govern the timing of adjustment of bills for meter or billing
error (PG&E Rule 17 and 17.1, SCE Rule 17, and SDG&E Rule 18).
A current CPUC tariff, promulgated in 1986, allows residential
customers to only be backbilled for three months worth of
undercharges. However, for commercial and industrial customers,
the tariff allows the utility to backbill up to three years
worth of undercharges.
CPUC Commissioner Bohn has been investigating the backbilling
issue and has endorsed the policy of treating small businesses
the same as residential customers in terms of the duration of
AB 1879
Page 2
allowable backbilling. Subsequently, on May 6, Commissioner
Bohn filed an Order Instituting a Rulemaking. CPUC Business &
Community Outreach branch will hold a workshop to discuss the
revisions to the rules in July.
Analysis Prepared by : DaVina Flemings / U. & C. / (916)
319-2083
FN: 0004708