Bill Text: CA AB1334 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 1334 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Public utilities: research and development projects.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB1334 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB1334-Introduced.html

BILL NUMBER: AB 1334	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Quirk

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to amend Section 740.1 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1334, as introduced, Quirk. Public utilities: research and
development projects.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations,
gas corporations, heat corporations, and telephone corporations, as
defined. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and
charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and
charges be just and reasonable. Existing law authorizes the
commission to allow inclusion of expenses for research and
development in rates. Existing law requires the commission to
consider specified guidelines in evaluating the research,
development, and demonstration programs proposed by electrical and
gas corporations.
   This bill would require findings supporting a decision to approve
the inclusion of expenses incurred for research and development
projects or programs in electricity rates be informed by independent
expert review.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 740.1 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:
   740.1.   (a)    The commission shall consider
the following guidelines in evaluating the research, development, and
demonstration programs proposed by electrical and gas corporations:

   (a) 
    (1)  Projects should offer a reasonable probability of
providing benefits to ratepayers. 
   (b) 
    (2)  Expenditures on projects  which 
 that  have a low probability for success should be
minimized. 
   (c) 
    (3)  Projects should be consistent with the corporation'
s resource plan. 
   (d) 
    (4)  Projects should not unnecessarily duplicate
research currently, previously, or imminently undertaken by other
electrical or gas corporations or research organizations. 
   (e) 
    (5)  Each project should also support one or more of the
following objectives: 
   (1) 
    (A)  Environmental improvement. 
   (2) 
    (B)  Public and employee safety. 
   (3) 
    (C)  Conservation by efficient resource use or by
reducing or shifting system load. 
   (4) 
    (D)  Development of new resources and processes,
particularly renewable resources and processes  which
  that  further supply technologies. 
   (5) 
    (   E)  Improve operating efficiency and
reliability or otherwise reduce operating costs. 
   (b) Findings supporting a decision to approve the inclusion of
expenses incurred for research and development projects or programs
in electricity rates pursuant to Section 740 shall be informed by
independent expert review.