BILL NUMBER: AB 2918	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 18, 2004
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 16, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 12, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 17, 2004
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 17, 2004
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 27, 2004
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 15, 2004
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 12, 2004

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Laird

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2004

   An act relating to desalination facilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2918, Laird.  Desalination facilities.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations
and water corporations.  Existing law authorizes the commission to
fix just and reasonable rates and charges for all public utilities.
   The existing Cobey-Porter Saline Water Conversion Law authorizes
the Department of Water Resources, either independently or in
cooperation with public or private entities, to conduct a program of
investigation, study, and evaluation in the field of saline water
conversion, to provide assistance to persons or entities seeking to
construct desalination facilities, and after submission of a written
report and upon appropriation from the Legislature, to finance,
construct, and operate saline water conversion facilities.
   This bill would require the commission to evaluate the
interrelationship between the commission's electricity policies and
water policies as they relate to saline water conversion through
ocean desalination, and to report to the Governor and the
Legislature, on or before January 1, 2006, on the balance between
electricity ratepayers and water ratepayers. The commission would be
required to invite the Department of Water Resources, the State Water
Resources Control Board, the Department of Fish and Game, the State
Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, and the
California Coastal Commission, to participate in the evaluation.


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


  SECTION 1.  The Public Utilities Commission shall evaluate the
interrelationship between the commission's electricity policy and
water policy as it relates to saline water conversion through ocean
desalination and shall report to the Governor and the Legislature by
January 1, 2006, on the balance between the interests of electricity
and water ratepayers.  The commission shall invite the Department of
Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board, the
Department of Fish and Game, the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission, and the California Coastal Commission, to
participate in the evaluation.