BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1565
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Date of Hearing: June 14, 2004
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Hannah-Beth Jackson, Chair
SB 1565 (Bowen) - As Amended: March 30, 2004
SENATE VOTE : 24-12
SUBJECT : State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission: strategic plan.
SUMMARY : This bill requires the California Energy Commission
(CEC) to include in its biennial Integrated Energy Policy Report
(IEPR) a strategic plan for the state's electric transmission
grid by November 1, 2005.
EXISTING LAW : Requires the CEC, every two years, to adopt an
IEPR that contains an overview of major energy trends and issues
facing the state, including, but not limited to, supply, demand,
pricing, reliability, efficiency, and impacts on public health
and safety, the economy, resources, and the environment. The
report is broken down into three sections; electricity and
natural gas markets; transportation fuels, technologies, and
infrastructure; and public interest energy strategies.
THIS BILL :
1)Requires the CEC, in consultation with the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Independent System
Operator (ISO), transmission owners, users, and consumers,
adopt a strategic plan for the state's electric transmission
grid to identify and implement investments needed to ensure
reliability and to meet future growth in load and generation,
including renewable resources, energy efficiency, and other
demand reduction measures.
2)Requires the IEPR be adopted on November 1, 2005.
FISCAL EFFECT : Minor. (This bill was reported from the Senate
Appropriations Committee pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.)
COMMENTS :
According to the author's office, the state is suffering from a
lack of direction on the future of the state's electric
SB 1565
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transmission infrastructure. While there has been significant
discussion about the state's electric transmission
infrastructure meeting growth in electricity demand, ensuring
reliable delivery of existing resources, and accommodating
delivery of new resources, there is no single body charged with
developing an overall strategy for the system. The ISO is
charged with planning and recommending transmission projects
within it's control area, the responsibility for building lies
with the transmission-owning utilities, who must obtain approval
for projects from the CPUC.
SB 1565
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The CEC, which is the state's energy planning and forecasting
body, is the most appropriate entity to examine the future of
the transmission system, the concerns of various players, and
recommend a path forward. This bill requires the CEC to adopt a
strategic plan in their biennial IEPR for the electric
transmission infrastructure.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Kyra Emanuels Ross / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092