Bill Text: CA AB1453 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Protection of orcas: unlawful activities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-11-30 - Died on Senate third reading file. [AB1453 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB1453-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1453	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Rendon

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to amend Section 1005.1 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to electricity.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1453, as introduced, Rendon. Electrical transmission:
certificates of public convenience and necessity.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations,
as defined. The Public Utilities Act prohibits any electrical
corporation from beginning the construction of, among other things, a
line, plant, or system, or of any extension thereof, without having
first obtained from the commission a certificate that the present or
future public convenience and necessity require or will require that
construction (certificate of public convenience and necessity).
Existing law requires the commission to issue a decision on an
application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity
within 18 months of the filing of a completed application if the
application is for a certificate for building or upgrading an
electrical transmission line that the commission finds necessary to
provide transmission to load centers for electricity generated in a
high-priority renewable energy zone or is reasonably necessary to
facilitate achievement of the renewables portfolio standard
established pursuant to the California Renewables Portfolio Standard
Program and the commission considers specified matter. The matter
that the commission is required to consider includes the availability
of cost-effective alternatives to transmission, such as energy
efficiency measures and distributed generation.
   This bill would require the commission to consider the
availability of cost-effective alternatives to transmission, such as
energy efficiency or demand response measures and distributed
generation.
   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 1005.1 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:
   1005.1.  (a) The commission shall issue a decision on an
application for a certificate within 18 months of the date of filing
of the completed application, when all of the following are true:
   (1) The application is for a certificate for building or upgrading
an electrical transmission line that the commission finds necessary
to provide transmission to load centers for electricity generated in
a high priority renewable energy zone or is reasonably necessary to
facilitate achievement of the renewables portfolio standard
established in Article 16 (commencing with Section 399.11) of Chapter
2.3.
   (2) The commission has considered all of the following:
   (A) The utilization of rights-of-way by upgrading existing
transmission facilities instead of building new transmission
facilities, where technically and economically justifiable.
   (B) The expansion of existing rights-of-way, if technically and
economically feasible, when construction of new transmission lines is
required.
   (C) The creation of new rights-of-way when justified by
environmental, technical, and economic reasons.
   (D) The availability of cost-effective alternatives to
transmission, such as energy efficiency  or demand response 
measures and distributed generation.
   (3) The commission has not expressly found any of the following:
   (A) That the investment is not reasonable and necessary to
maintain or enhance reliability of the transmission grid.
   (B) That the building or upgrading of the electrical transmission
line will not maintain or enhance efficient use of the transmission
grid.
   (C) That the transmission line fails to meet other applicable
standards and requirements for approval and construction.
   (b) An extension of time may be granted by the commission if it
finds the extension is necessary for completion of review pursuant to
the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing
with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).