BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       


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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                  SB 1891|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 1891
          Author:   Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications  
          Committee
          Amended:  5/4/04
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE ENERGY, U.&C. COMMITTEE  :  6-0, 4/13/04
          AYES:  Bowen, Alarcon, Dunn, McClintock, Murray, Sher
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Morrow, Battin, Vasconcellos

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8


           SUBJECT  :    Public utilities

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill (1) clarifies the exemption granted  
          for specified multiunit residential units from the  
          requirement to be individually metered for electric and gas  
          service, and (2) renumbers a provision of the Public  
          Utilities Code to eliminate a duplicative statutory  
          numbering.

           ANALYSIS  :    Existing law requires the State Public  
          Utilities Commission to require all residential units in an  
          apartment or similar multiunit residential structure,  
          condominium, or mobilehome park built after July 1, 1982,  
          to be individually metered for electric and gas service.  A  
          dormitory or other housing accommodation provided by any  
          postsecondary educational institution for students or  
          employees and farmworker housing are exempt from the  
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                                                               SB 1891
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          requirement.

          Separate metering for gas service is not required for  
          residential units which are not equipped with gas  
          appliances requiring venting or that receive most of the  
          energy used for water or space heating from a solar energy  
          system or through cogeneration technology.

          This bill clarifies that among those units not required to  
          have separate metering for gas service are those equipped  
          with only vented decorative appliances.

          The bill also amends and renumbers the a provision of the  
          Public Utilities Code to eliminate a duplicative statutory  
          numbering.

           Comments

           This is the annual committee bill which contains  
          non-controversial measures that do not make substantive  
          changes in policy.

          The policy on committee bills is any member may ask for any  
          provision of the bill to be deleted.  Committee staff  
          expects this bill will be amended to contain additional  
          non-controversial measures as it moves through the process.  
           
           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  No

          NC:cm  5/17/04   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

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