BILL NUMBER: SB 1885	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 1, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2002

   An act to add  Article 9 (commencing with Section 640) to
Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of   Section 451.1 to
 the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1885, as amended, Bowen.  Electrical corporations. 
   (1) Existing law, the Public Utilities Act, governs the rights and
obligations of public utilities, including electrical corporations.
The act requires that any service rendered by a public utility be
just and reasonable. Under the act, every public utility is required
to furnish and maintain adequate, efficient, just, and reasonable
service, instrumentalities, equipment, and facilities, that are
necessary to promote the safety, health, comfort, and convenience of
its patrons, employees, and the public.
   This bill would require an electrical corporation, as part of its
obligation to serve, to obtain adequate supplies of electricity to
meet the needs of its customers.  Since a violation of the act is a
crime under existing provisions of law, the bill 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 Public Utilities Act governs the rights and obligations of
public utilities and subjects them to regulation by the Public
Utilities Commission.
   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to reaffirm
the obligation of electrical corporations to serve consumers.

   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  
no   yes  . State-mandated local program:
 no  yes  .


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

  
  SECTION 1.  Article 9 (commencing with Section 640) is 

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) An electric utility is required to provide adequate, just, and
reasonable service and facilities, including obtaining adequate
supplies of electricity for use by its customers, as are necessary to
promote the safety, health, comfort, and convenience of its patrons,
employees, and the public.
   (b) Extraordinary increases in the wholesale cost of electricity
prevented the state's two largest electric utilities from meeting
their historic electric procurement obligation.
   (c) To provide for the health, safety, and welfare of
Californians, the Department of Water Resources was charged, through
December 31, 2002, with obtaining adequate supplies of electricity.
   (d) It is in the public's interest that the utilities resume the
responsibility of obtaining adequate supplies of electricity as soon
as possible.
  SEC. 2.  Section 451.1 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   451.1.  An electrical corporation shall, as part of its obligation
to serve, obtain adequate supplies of electricity to meet the needs
of its customers.
  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.    added to Chapter 3 of Part 1 of
Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, to read:

      Article 9.  Rights and Responsibilities of Public Utilities

   640.  It is the intent of the Legislature to reaffirm the
obligation of electrical corporations to serve consumers.