BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                    Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
          
                                           1624 (Bowen)
          
          Hearing Date:  5/10/04          Amended: 4/27/04       
          Consultant:  Lisa Matocq            Policy Vote: E, U & C  
          5-0                      
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          BILL SUMMARY: 
          
          SB 1624 specifies that the Office of Ratepayer Advocate  
          (ORA), within the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), is  
          authorized to intervene in PUC proceedings and in the  
          judicial review of decisions, and makes related changes.  
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                          Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions                    2004-05             2005-06   
                      2006-07            Fund

           ORA/PUC                       Unknown, potentially under  
          $150                    Special*
                                 annually, probably offset by fee  
          revenues

          *Public Utilities' Reimbursement Account 
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          STAFF COMMENTS:  
          
          This bill specifies that the ORA can challenge a PUC  
          decision in court, and has all of the rights of a party to  
          intervene in PUC proceedings and in the judicial review of  
          PUC decisions, and makes related changes.   

          Increased costs are indeterminable and depend on the number  
          of cases or proceedings. 

          PURA revenues are derived from an annual fee imposed on  
          public utilities.  Therefore, any increased costs to the  
          PUC should be offset by increased fee revenues.