California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2661

Introduced by Assembly Member Bradford

February 21, 2014

An act to amend Section 857 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to utility property.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2661, as introduced, Bradford. Utility right-of-way.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities. Existing law authorizes a public utility to lease real property acquired for purposes of obtaining a utility right-of-way to a governmental entity for purposes of a public park if the utility retains the use of the right-of-way for public utility purposes, as prescribed.

This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to these provisions.

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

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 857 of the Public Utilities Code is
amended to read:

857.  

(a) A public utility that owns real property acquired for
purposes of obtaining a utility right-of-way, may lease that property
to a governmental entity for purposes of a public park, if the begin insert public end insert
utility retains the use of the right-of-way for public utility purposes.

(b) In determining whether a lease of real property to a
governmental entity for park purposes is for fair value, the
commission shall include the community benefits of parks and
open space as a benefit to ratepayers.

(c) As used in this section, “community benefits” include, but
are not limited to, improving public health, protecting the
environment, and increasing recreational assets.