Bill Text: CA SB598 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Public utilities: gas and electric service disconnections.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 362, Statutes of 2017. [SB598 Detail]
Download: California-2017-SB598-Amended.html
Amended
IN
Assembly
July 19, 2017 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
July 05, 2017 |
Senate Bill | No. 598 |
Introduced by Senator Hueso |
February 17, 2017 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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.
The Legislature finds and declares the following:(a)For more than 40 years, California has recognized that light and heat are basic human rights.
(b)
(c)
(d)
SEC. 2.
Section 718 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:(a)The commission shall prioritize provision of universal gas and electric service to every residential household by doing both of the following:
(1)In a commission proceeding that may result in an increase in a utility revenue requirement or rates,
718.
(a) A gas or electrical corporation shall incorporate the metric the commission adopts pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) in all of its reports to the commission that measure or address service reliability, public safety, and affordability.
(C)Make a finding of fact regarding the impact on disconnections for nonpayment of any revenue requirement or rate increase authorized by the commission.
(b)A gas or electrical corporation shall incorporate the metric the commission adopts pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) in all of its reports to the commission that measure or address service reliability, public safety, and affordability.
SEC. 3.
Section 779.3 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:779.3.
(a) A gas or electrical corporation shall not disconnect service for nonpayment by a residential customer receiving a medical baseline allowance pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 739 who is financially unable to pay for service within the normal payment period, who is willing to enter into, before delinquency, an amortization agreement with the corporation pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 779 with respect to all charges that the customer is unable to pay, and who meets any of the following criteria:(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)