BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                    Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
          
                                           68 (Battin)
          
          Hearing Date:  6/7/01           Amended: 5/31/01 and  
          proposed to
                                                                       
                   be amended by LCR #115337                     
          Consultant:  Lisa Matocq            Policy Vote: E, U & C  
          8-0                      
          ____________________________________________________________ 
          ___
          BILL SUMMARY: 
          
          SB 68xx, an urgency bill, requires the Public Utilities  
          Commission (PUC) to make a determination, as specified, of  
          the potential effect of extreme temperatures on the health  
          and safety of residential customers when establishing  
          priorities among the categories of customers of electrical  
          corporations, for example, which serve the greatest public  
          benefit. 

                              Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
           
          Major Provisions                 2001-02           2002-03              
           2003-04               Fund  
          
          PUC                      Unknown, potentially $500 one-time           
             Special*

          *Public Utilities' Reimbursement Account     
          
          STAFF COMMENTS:  This bill meets the criteria for referral  
          to the Suspense File. 

          In making the determination, the PUC must: 

           consult with medical experts and review appropriate  
            literature and research,
           consider the effect(s) on other customers of making  
            customers who live in regions with extreme temperatures a  
            priority,
           consider alternative measures, such as reducing the  
            duration of blackouts, for customers living in regions  
            experiencing extreme temperatures. 











          The PUC is in the process of examining baseline quantities,  
          including those of customers living in regions with extreme  
          temperatures, and recently reviewed residential blackout  
          protocols.  Increased costs are unknown, but potentially  
          $500,000 to contract out for the medical provisions and for  
          staff to comply with the other provisions of the bill.