BILL NUMBER: SB 107	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bowen

                        JANUARY 30, 2003

   An act to repeal Section 350 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to electric power.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 107, as introduced, Bowen.  Independent System Operator:
report.
   The Public Utilities Act requires the Independent System Operator,
in consultation with the California Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, the
Western Systems Coordinating Council, and concerned regulatory
agencies in other western states, within 6 months after Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission approval of the Independent System
Operator, to provide a report with certain information to the
Legislature and the Electricity Oversight Board.
   This bill would repeal that provision.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  no.
State-mandated local program:  no.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 350 of the Public Utilities Code is repealed.

   350.  The Independent System Operator, in consultation with the
California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission,
the Public Utilities Commission, the Western Systems Coordinating
Council, and concerned regulatory agencies in other western states,
shall within six months after the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission approval of the Independent System Operator, provide a
report to the Legislature and to the Oversight Board that does the
following:
   (a) Conducts an independent review and assessment of Western
Systems Coordinating Council operating reliability criteria.
   (b) Quantifies the economic cost of major transmission outages
relating to the Pacific Intertie, Southwest Power Link, DC link, and
other important high voltage lines that carry power both into and
from California.
   (c) Identifies the range of cost-effective options that would
prevent or mitigate the consequences of major transmission outages.
   (d) Identifies communication protocols that may be needed to be
established to provide advance warning of incipient problems.
   (e) Identifies the need for additional generation reserves and
other voltage support equipment, if any, or other resources that may
be necessary to carry out its functions.
   (f) Identifies transmission capacity additions that may be
necessary at certain times of the year or under certain conditions.
   (g) Assesses the adequacy of current and prospective institutional
provisions for the maintenance of reliability.
   (h) Identifies mechanisms to enforce transmission right-of-way
maintenance.
   (i) Contains recommendations regarding cost-beneficial
improvements to electric system reliability for the citizens of
California.