BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                    Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
          
                                           1624 (Bowen)
          
          Hearing Date:  5/20/04          Amended: 4/27/04 and  
          proposed to 
                                                                       
                   be amended by LCR #410216                     
          Consultant:  Lisa Matocq            Policy Vote: E, U & C  
          5-0                      
          ____________________________________________________________ 
          ___
          BILL SUMMARY: 
          
          SB 1624 makes minor and clarifying changes related to the  
          Office of Ratepayer Advocate (ORA), within the Public  
          Utilities Commission (PUC).  
          ____________________________________________________________ 
          __
                          Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

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

           ORA/PUC                       Probably minor costs, offset  
          by fee revenues   Special*

          *Public Utilities' Reimbursement Account (PURA)
          ____________________________________________________________ 
          __

          STAFF COMMENTS:  SUSPENSE FILE. 

          This bill may require the PUC to modify its code of  
          conduct, related to ORA, to clarify that advocates and  
          their representatives on a particular case or proceeding do  
          not have preferential access to information regarding the  
          commission's deliberative process.  The bill also makes  
          other minor, and technical changes related to the ORA.   

          Increased costs are probably minor. 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. 

          Amend per author to reduce costs by eliminating the  










          provision of the bill that authorizes the ORA to intervene  
          in commission proceedings and the judicial review of PUC  
          decisions.