BILL NUMBER: AB 746	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 6, 2005

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Blakeslee

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2005

   An act to add Section 755 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 746, as amended, Blakeslee.  Public utilities: billings.
   Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to
supervise and regulate every public utility in the state  ,
including an electrical corporation  . Existing law authorizes
the commission to establish rules for all public utilities, subject
to control by the Legislature. Existing law authorizes the commission
to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires
that those rates and charges be just and reasonable.
   This bill would  state the intent of the Legislature to
establish policies to eliminate obstacles that prevent public
utilities from offering   require the commission to
authorize an electrical corporation to offer  convenient bill
payment methods to customers  , including credit card and debit
card payment options, subject to the payment of reasonable
transaction related fees  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 755 is added to the  Public Utilities Code , to
read:  
   755.    It is the intent of the Legislature, in subsequent
legislation, to establish policies to eliminate obstacles that
prevent public utilities from offering convenient bill payment
methods to customers.   755. An electrical corporation
may offer convenient bill payment options to customers, including
credit card and debit card payment options that pass on reasonable
transaction related fees to customers utilizing those payment
options.