BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �          1





                SENATE ENERGY, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
                                 ALEX PADILLA, CHAIR
          

          SR 15 -  Beall                     Hearing Date:  July 2, 2013    
              S
          As Introduced: June 13, 2013                 Non-FISCAL       R
                                                                        
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                                      DESCRIPTION
           
          This resolution expresses the Senate's support for the Division  
          of Ratepayer Advocates and the substantial contributions it has  
          made to the residents of California.


                                       COMMENTS
           
          This resolution makes the following legislative declarations  
          which are consistent with the 2012 Annual Report of the Division  
          of Ratepayer Advocates which it submits to the Legislature every  
          January. 

             1.   The Division of Ratepayer Advocates represents  
               residential and small business customers of electricity,  
               natural gas, water, and communications investor-owned  
               utilities for the purpose of obtaining the lowest possible  
               rates for utility customers consistent with safe and  
               reliable service.

             2.   The Division of Ratepayer Advocates was created in the  
               California Public Utilities Commission in 1984.

             3.   The Legislature recognized the Division of Ratepayer  
               Advocates in statute in 1996 to give the division  
               independence from the commission in order for the division  
               to carry out its role in advocating on behalf of public  
               utility customers.

             4.   In 2005, the Legislature expanded the charge of the  
               Division of Ratepayer Advocates to represent the interests  
               of customers in all significant proceedings and forums,  











               rather than just proceedings at the commission.

             5.   The Division of Ratepayer Advocates has 137 authorized  
               positions, including economists, engineers, policy  
               analysts, auditors, and accountants, with expertise in  
               regulatory issues related to the electricity, natural gas,  
               water, and telecommunications industries in California.

             6.   The Division of Ratepayers Advocates saved residential  
               and small business customers nearly $4 billion in 2012,  
               which was nearly $153 for every dollar allocated to the  
               division.

             7.   In 2012, the Division of Ratepayer Advocates  
               participated in 176 commission proceedings and filed more  
               than 600 pleadings to aid the commission in developing the  
               record from which commissioners formulated their final  
               decisions.

             8.   The Division of Ratepayer Advocates provides thoughtful  
               analysis of pressing issues, including white papers on the  
               effect of time-variant pricing on small electric service  
               customers, energy utility service disconnections, effective  
               smart meter deployment, and a guide to California's  
               renewable energy policies and programs.

             9.   The Division of Ratepayer Advocates achieves its  
               statutory mission to represent and protect electricity,  
               natural gas, water, and communications investor-owned  
               utility customers in Sacramento by taking positions on  
               bills, testifying in informational and bill hearings,  
               providing technical legislative and constituent assistance,  
               participating in working groups, and providing updates on  
               the actions of the division and of the commission.

                                       POSITIONS
           
           Sponsor:
           
          Author

          Support:
           
          None on file











           Oppose:
           
          None on file

          













          Kellie Smith 
          SR 15 Analysis
          Hearing Date:  July 2, 2013