Bill Text: CA AB1609 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Public utilities: fireproofing programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2020-02-03 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB1609 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB1609-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
| Assembly Bill | No. 1609 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Chen |
February 22, 2019 |
An act to add Section 8389 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1609, as introduced, Chen.
Public utilities: fireproofing programs.
Existing law requires electrical corporations and local publicly owned electric utilities to construct, maintain, and operate their electrical lines and equipment in a manner that will minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfire posed by those electrical lines and equipment. Existing law requires electrical corporations and local publicly owned electric utilities to prepare annually a wildfire mitigation plan.
This bill would require the Public Utilities Commission to direct each electrical corporation and gas corporation to file an application for programs to provide financial assistance to owners of residential properties in fire-prone areas within their respective service territories to install improvements to reduce or eliminate wildfire impacts on those properties or to purchase emergency equipment or supplies for use in case of a
deenergization event. The bill would require that the programs be funded through voluntary contributions from customers of the corporations. The bill would require the governing board of a local publicly owned electric or gas utility to implement analogous programs to provide financial assistance to owners of residential properties in fire-prone areas within the service territory of the utility. Because this bill would impose additional duties on the governing boards of local publicly owned electric or gas utilities, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any rule, order, decision, or direction of the commission is a crime.
Because a violation of an order of the commission implementing these requirements would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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 specified reasons.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 8389 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:8389.
(a) (1) The commission shall direct each electrical corporation and gas corporation to file an application for programs to provide financial assistance or rebates to owners of residential properties in fire-prone areas within the service territory of the electrical or gas corporation to install improvements to reduce or eliminate the impacts of wildfire on residential properties or to purchase emergency equipment or supplies for use in case of a deenergization event. The programs shall be funded through voluntary contributions from customers of the electrical or gas corporation. Those contributions shall not be connected to receipt of program benefits.(2) The electrical or gas corporation shall submit the programs for
approval by the commission.
(b) (1) The governing board of a local publicly owned electric or gas utility shall implement programs to provide financial assistance or rebates to owners of residential properties in fire-prone areas within the service territory of the utility to install improvements to reduce or eliminate the impacts of wildfire on residential properties or to purchase emergency equipment or supplies for use in case of a deenergization event. The programs shall be funded through voluntary contributions from customers of the utility. Those contributions shall not be connected to the receipt of program benefits.
(2) The local publicly owned electric or gas utility shall submit the programs for approval by the Energy Commission.
