BILL NUMBER: AB 1182	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 29, 2005
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 22, 2005
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 21, 2005
	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, 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 that
request that information.
   This bill would rename the annual work plan access guide the
annual work plan and would require the commission to post the annual
work plan on its Internet Web site. The bill would require the
commission to determine the feasibility of submitting advice letters
to the commission through electronic means, as described, and if
determined to be feasible, to propose a plan for submitting advice
letters by electronic means within 6 months of the date of that
determination.


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.
  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 that describes in clear detail the scheduled
ratemaking proceedings and other decisions that may be considered by
the commission during the calendar year. The 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 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 plan under the Official
Documents area of its Internet Web site and shall develop a program
to disseminate the information in the 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 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 advice letters to the commission through
electronic means. If determined to be feasible, the commission shall,
within six months, propose a plan for submitting advice letters 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.