BILL NUMBER: AB 1182	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 12, 2005

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Calderon

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2005

   An act to amend Section 321.6 of  , and to add Section 322.5
to,  the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1182, as amended, Calderon.  Public Utilities Commission: work
plan access guide.
    Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to develop,
publish, and annually update an annual work plan access guide
describing the scheduled ratemaking proceedings and other decisions
that may be considered by the commission during the calendar year,
and containing specific information regarding the ratemaking process
and access to that process. Existing law requires the commission to
develop a program to disseminate the information in the guide
utilizing computer mailing lists to provide regular updates on the
information to those members of the public and organizations which
request that information.
   This bill would  also   rename the annual
work plan access guide the annual work plan and would  require
the commission to post the  information in the guide
  annual work plan  on its Internet Web site. 
The bill would require the commission to determine the feasibility of
submitting informal filings to the commission through electronic
means, as described, and if determined to be feasible, to develop an
implementation plan for submitting informal filings by electronic
means within 6 months. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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


  SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:  
   (a) It is in the interest of the people of the state of California
that the Public Utilities Commission refrain from requiring public
utilities to deliver paper copies of information supplied to the
commission when that information can be made available to the
commission electronically.  
   (b) Allowing public utilities to make information requested by the
commission available electronically will help decrease the costs of
regulation by reducing the need to reproduce, on paper, one or more
copies of reports and other information for use by the commission.
 
   (c) It is in the interest of the state's economy that the
businesses that fuel that economy be allowed to interact with
government in the most efficient manner. Authorizing businesses to
supply information requested by regulatory agencies via the Internet
promotes that goal. 
   SECTION 1. 
   SEC. 2.   Section 321.6 of the Public Utilities Code is
amended to read:
   321.6.  The commission shall develop, publish, and annually update
an annual work plan  access guide  that describes
in clear detail the scheduled ratemaking proceedings and other
decisions that may be considered by the commission during the
calendar year. The  guide   plan  shall
include, but is not limited to, information on how members of the
public and ratepayers can gain access to the commission's ratemaking
process and information regarding the specific matters to be decided.
The  guide   plan shall also include
information on the operation of the office of the public advisor and
identify the names and telephone numbers of those contact persons
responsible for specific cases and matters to be decided. The
commission shall post the  information in the guide on
  plan under the Official Documents area of  its
Internet Web site and shall develop a program to disseminate the
information in the  guide   plan  utilizing
computer mailing lists to provide regular updates on the information
to those members of the public and organizations which request that
information. The annual work plan  access guide 
shall be transmitted to the Legislature between January 15 and
February 1 of each year.
  SEC. 3.   Section 322.5 is added to the   Public
Utilities Code   , to read:  
   322.5.  The commission shall determine, as part of the proceeding
in Rulemaking 98-07-038 (Rulemaking for purposes of Revising General
Order 96-A Regarding Informal Filings at the Commission) or any other
appropriate proceeding, as determined by the commission, the
feasibility of submitting informal filings to the commission through
electronic means. If determined to be feasible, the commission shall,
within six months, develop an implementation plan for submitting
informal filings by electronic means. For purposes of this section,
"electronic means" include electronic mail and electronic forms
developed or approved by the commission and submitted through the
commission's Internet Web site.