BILL NUMBER: AB 1302	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 31, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Williams

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

    An act relating to energy.   An act to add
Section 713 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to electricity.




	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1302, as amended, Williams.  Energy: renewable energy
technologies.  Electricity distribution grid upgrade
plan.  
   (1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has
regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical
corporations.  
   The bill would require an electrical corporation to complete a
distribution grid upgrade plan, pursuant to a specified schedule, in
order to accommodate the increasing number of wholesale distributed
generation projects expected to be created under new and existing
renewable energy programs.  
   Because a violation by an electrical corporation of the bill's
requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated
local program.  
   (2) 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.  
   Existing law establishes various programs to encourage the
development of renewable energy technologies.  
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to establish a program to support emerging renewable
technologies in distributed generation, with specified objectives.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program:  no
  yes  .


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 713 is added to the  
Public Utilities Code  , to read:  
   713.  (a) As used in this section, "wholesale distributed
generation" means renewable energy generation that interconnects to
the distribution grid and provides electricity to an electrical
corporation.
   (b) An electrical corporation shall complete a distribution grid
upgrade plan, extending for a three-year period from the date of
completion of the plan, in order to accommodate the increasing number
of wholesale distributed generation projects expected to be created
under new and existing renewable energy programs. The first plan
shall be due no later than July 1, 2012. An updated plan shall be due
every two years thereafter. Interested parties shall be allowed to
comment on each plan prior to its finalization. 
   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.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation to establish a new program to support emerging
renewable technologies in distributed generation, with the objectives
of reducing peak demand, reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
enhancing grid reliability, and encouraging fuel diversity.