BILL NUMBER: AB 1233	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Pescetti

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

   An act to add Section 785.8 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1233, as introduced, Pescetti.  Public utilities:
transportation charges.
   (1) Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to allow
a gas corporation to fully recover all reasonable and prudent costs
associated with ownership and operation of the gas plant used for
transportation.
   This bill would require any transportation charges permitted under
a rate tariff by the commission for the transmission of natural gas
from a gas well to the end-use customer to include the cost of
transmitting gas to and from a storage facility, or to and from a
facility that blends natural gas to achieve a usable thermal rate.
The bill would prohibit any transportation charge from being assessed
by the utility for the use of local pipelines not owned by the
utility.  Because a violation of the Public Utilities Act is a crime
under existing provisions of law, this bill would create 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.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  yes.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 785.8 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   785.8.  Any transportation charges permitted under a rate tariff
by the commission for the transmission of natural gas from a gas well
to the end-use customer shall include the cost of transmitting gas
to and from a storage facility, or to and from a facility that blends
natural gas to achieve a usable thermal rate.  No transportation
charge may be assessed by a utility for the use of local pipelines
not owned by the utility.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.