Bill Text: CA SB699 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Public utilities: electrical corporations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-09-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 550, Statutes of 2014. [SB699 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SB699-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 699	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  550
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 25, 2014
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 25, 2014
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 29, 2014
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 26, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 22, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 18, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 25, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 12, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 7, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 19, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 8, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 4, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hill
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Gatto)

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to amend Section 364 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 699, Hill. Public utilities: electrical corporations.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations,
as defined. Existing law requires the commission to adopt inspection,
maintenance, repair, and replacement standards for the distribution
systems of electrical corporations in order to provide high-quality,
safe, and reliable service. Existing law requires the commission to
conduct a review to determine whether the standards have been met and
to perform the review after every major outage.
   This bill would require the commission, in a new proceeding, or
new phase of an existing proceeding, to commence on or before July 1,
2015, to consider adopting rules to address physical security risks
to the distribution systems of electrical corporations.
   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 are within the act and require
action by the commission to implement its requirements, a violation
of these provisions would impose a state-mandated local program by
expanding the definition of a crime.
   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.


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

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Physical threats to the electrical distribution system present
risks to public health and safety and could disrupt economic
activity in California.
   (b) Ensuring appropriate actions are taken to protect and secure
vulnerable electrical distribution system assets from physical
threats that could disrupt safe and reliable electric service, or
disrupt essential public services, including safe drinking water
supplies, are in the public interest.
   (c) Proper planning, in coordination with the appropriate federal
and state regulatory and law enforcement authorities, will help
prepare for attacks on the electrical distribution system and thereby
help reduce the potential consequences of such attacks.
  SEC. 2.  Section 364 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   364.  (a) The commission shall adopt inspection, maintenance,
repair, and replacement standards, and shall, in a new proceeding, or
new phase of an existing proceeding, to commence on or before July
1, 2015, consider adopting rules to address the physical security
risks to the distribution systems of electrical corporations. The
standards or rules, which shall be prescriptive or performance based,
or both, and may be based on risk management, as appropriate, for
each substantial type of distribution equipment or facility, shall
provide for high-quality, safe, and reliable service.
   (b) In setting its standards or rules, the commission shall
consider: cost, local geography and weather, applicable codes,
potential physical security risks, national electric industry
practices, sound engineering judgment, and experience. The commission
shall also adopt standards for operation, reliability, and safety
during periods of emergency and disaster. The commission shall
require each electrical corporation to report annually on its
compliance with the standards or rules. Except as provided in
subdivision (d), that report shall be made available to the public.
   (c) The commission shall conduct a review to determine whether the
standards or rules prescribed in this section have been met. If the
commission finds that the standards or rules have not been met, the
commission may order appropriate sanctions, including penalties in
the form of rate reductions or monetary fines. The review shall be
performed after every major outage. Any money collected pursuant to
this subdivision shall be used to offset funding for the California
Alternative Rates for Energy Program.
   (d) The commission may, consistent with other provisions of law,
withhold from the public information generated or obtained pursuant
to this section that it deems would pose a security threat to the
public if disclosed.
  SEC. 3.   No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.