BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 1891
                                                                  Page  1

          SENATE THIRD READING
          SB 1891 ( Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee)
          As Amended  August 4, 2004
          Majority vote

           SENATE VOTE  :   37-0
            
           UTILITIES AND COMMERCE     23-0 APPROPRIATIONS      20-0        
           
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Ayes:|Reyes, Aghazarian, Bogh,  |Ayes:|Chu, Runner, Bates, berg, |
          |     |Calderon, Canciamilla,    |     |Calderon, Corbett,        |
          |     |Diaz, Jerome Horton, La   |     |Correa, Daucher,          |
          |     |Malfa, Levine, Maddox,    |     |Firebaugh, Goldberg,      |
          |     |Ridley-Thomas, Wesson     |     |Keene, Leno, Nation,      |
          |     |                          |     |Negrete McLeod, Oropeza,  |
          |     |                          |     |Pavley, Ridley-Thomas,    |
          |     |                          |     |Wesson, Wiggins, Yee      |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 

           SUMMARY  :  Makes technical, non-controversial changes to existing  
          law.  Specifically,  this bill  :   

          1)Renumbers a provision of the Public Utilities Code to  
            eliminate duplicative statutory numbering. 

          2)Creates an exemption from a requirement that multi-unit  
            residential complexes must be individually metered for  
            electrical and gas service to allow multi-unit complexes to  
            not have gas meters if they are only equipped with vented  
            decorative appliances (gas fireplaces). 

          3)Deletes two sections in the Public Utilities Code that are  
            duplicative of similar sections in the Public Resources Code.

           EXISTING LAW  requires all residential units in an apartment or  
          similar multi-unit residential structure, condominium, or mobile  
          home 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 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  








                                                                  SB 1891
                                                                  Page  2

          system or through cogeneration technology. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Minor absorbable costs to the California Public  
          Utilities Commission.

           COMMENTS  :  This is an annual omnibus code clean-up bill.  In  
          addition, this bill also addresses an issue, raised by San Diego  
          Gas and Electric concerning gas meters on multi-unit residential  
          complexes, to specifically allow new apartment complexes to  
          install gas fireplaces without installing individual gas meters  
          on each unit. 


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Edward Randolph / U. & C. / (916)  
          319-2083 

                                                                FN: 0007283