Bill Text: CA AB1847 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Electrical corporations: public administrator.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-17 - Referred to Com. on U. & E. [AB1847 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB1847-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1847
| Introduced by Assembly Member Levine |
January 06, 2020 |
An act to add Section 702.1 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1847, as introduced, Levine.
Electrical corporations: public administrator.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations.
This bill would authorize the commission, if the commission adopts a decision that includesfindings that an electrical corporation is not complying with state law or rules, regulations, or other directives from the commission, to appoint a public administrator to the electrical corporation for a period not to exceed 180 days, except as provided. The bill would vest the public administrator with oversight authority over the electrical corporation’s activities that impact public safety.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act, a violation of which 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 a specified reason.
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 702.1 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:702.1.
(a) Pursuant to its authority pursuant to Sections 701 and 702, upon the adoption of a commission decision in a proceeding that includes findings that an electrical corporation is not complying with state law or rules, regulations, or other directives from the commission, the commission may embed a public administrator within the electrical corporation.(b) The public administrator shall have oversight authority over an electrical corporation’s activities that impact public safety, including the electrical corporation’s decision to deenergize all or part of its distribution or transmission system to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition. If, after appropriate due diligence, the public administrator modifies an electrical corporation’s decision
regarding deenergization of all or part of its distribution or transmission system, the electrical corporation shall act in accordance with the public administrator’s decision.
(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the appointment of the embedded public administrator shall not exceed 180 days.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the commission may extend the appointment of the embedded public administrator beyond the 180-day period if the commission adopts a decision in a proceeding making further findings supporting the continued need for the public administrator.
