BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
1476 (Padilla)
Hearing Date: 05/03/2010 Amended: 04/20/2010
Consultant: Brendan McCarthy Policy Vote: EU&C 10-0, Jud. 4-0
SB 1476 (Padilla), Page 2
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 1476 requires investor owned utilities and
publicly owned utilities that use smart meters to allow
customers to access their consumption data without requiring the
disclosure of personally identifiable information or consumption
data to a third party.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Fund
PUC enforcement $115 Special
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* Public Utilities Commission Utilities Reimbursement Account.
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STAFF COMMENTS:
Under current regulation, the Public Utilities Commission
requires the state's investor owned utilities that provide
natural gas and electricity service to upgrade their metering
systems to make use of advanced metering infrastructure - often
referred to as "smart meters". These smart meters allow real
time monitoring of consumption levels by individual customers
and the utilities. In addition, smart meters allow utilities to
charge customers variable rates, depending on the price of
electricity at different times of the day and days of the week.
San Diego Gas & Electric currently allows customers with smart
meters to access information about their consumption. However,
customers must use Google's Powermeter software to access this
data. While the use of Powermeter is free to the customer,
Google requires customers to consent to relinquish their
consumption data to Google.
This bill requires investor owned utilities and publicly owned
utilities that utilize smart meters to allow customers to access
their consumption data without having to consent to disclose
personally identifiable information or consumption data to a
third party.
The Commission indicates that it will require one additional
SB 1476 (Padilla), Page 2
staff position to implement the bill. According to the
Commission, an additional position is needed to review utility
marketing materials, review utility contracts with any third
parties that provide consumption data to customers, and review
utility practices to ensure customer information is protected.
Current law requires the Commission to undertake a pilot study
on rate design and metering systems to assist residential and
small commercial customers better manage their electricity use.
This bill repeals that requirement, as the study has been
completed and the Commission has ordered the deployment of smart
meters in order to better manage electricity use.
SB 837 (Florez) also addresses issues of customer data and
confidentiality. That bill will be heard in this committee.