BILL NUMBER: SB 580 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 26, 2005
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 31, 2005
INTRODUCED BY Senator Escutia
( Principal coauthor: Senator
Alarcon )
FEBRUARY 18, 2005
An act to amend Section 382.1 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to the Public Utilities Commission.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 580, as amended, Escutia. Public Utilities Commission:
Low-Income Oversight Board.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities and can establish its own
procedures, subject to statutory limitations or directions and
constitutional requirements of due process. Existing law establishes
a Low-Income Oversight Board to advise the commission on low-income
electric and gas customers issues and to serve as a liaison for the
commission to low-income ratepayers and representatives. Existing law
specifies the membership of the board.
This bill would expand the duties of the board to include advising
the commission on low-income water customer issues and to serve as a
liaison for the commission to those low-income ratepayers and
representatives. The bill would increase the membership of the board
by 2 persons selected by the commission, the first with expertise in
the low-income community and who is not affiliated with any state
agency or utility group, and the second who is a representative of a
water corporation.
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. Section 382.1 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:
382.1.
(a) There is hereby established a Low-Income Oversight Board that
shall advise the commission on low-income electric, gas,
telecommunications, and water customer issues and shall
serve as a liaison for the commission to low-income ratepayers and
representatives. The Low-Income Oversight Board shall replace the
Low-Income Advisory Board in existence on January 1, 2000. The
Low-Income Oversight Board shall do all of the following to advise
the commission regarding the commission's duties:
(1) Monitor and evaluate implementation of all programs provided
to low-income electricity, gas, and water customers.
(2) Assist in the development and analysis of any assessments of
low-income customer need.
(3) Encourage collaboration between state and utility programs for
low-income electricity and gas customers to maximize the leverage of
state and federal energy efficiency funds to both lower the bills
and increase the comfort of low-income customers.
(4) Provide reports to the Legislature, as requested, summarizing
the assessment of need, audits, and analysis of program
implementation.
(5) Assist in streamlining the application and enrollment process
of programs for low-income electricity and gas customers with general
low-income programs, including, but not limited to, the Universal
Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS) program.
(6) Encourage the usage of the network of community service
providers in accordance with Section 381.5.
(b) The Low-Income Oversight Board shall be comprised of 11
members to be selected as follows:
(1) Five members selected by the commission who have expertise in
the low-income community and who are not affiliated with any state
agency or utility group. These members shall be selected in a manner
to ensure an equitable geographic distribution.
(2) One member selected by the Governor.
(3) One member selected by the commission who is a commissioner or
commissioner designee.
(4) One member selected by the Department of Community Services
and Development.
(5) One member selected by the commission who is a representative
of private weatherization contractors.
(6) One member selected by the commission who is a representative
of an electrical or gas corporation.
(7) One member selected by the commission who is a representative
of a water corporation.
(c) The Low-Income Oversight Board shall alternate meeting
locations between northern, central, and southern California.
(d) The Low-Income Oversight Board may establish a technical
advisory committee consisting of low-income service providers,
utility representatives, consumer organizations, and commission
staff, to assist the board and may request utility representatives
and commission staff to assist the technical advisory committee.
(e) The commission shall do all of the following in conjunction
with the board:
(1) Work with the board, interested parties, and community-based
organizations to increase participation in programs for low-income
customers.
(2) Provide technical support to the board.
(3) Ensure that the energy burden of low-income electricity and
gas customers is reduced.
(4) Provide formal notice of board meetings in the commissions'
daily calendar.
(f) (1) Members of the board and members of the technical advisory
committee shall be eligible for compensation in accordance with
state guidelines for necessary travel.
(2) Members of the board and members of the technical advisory
committee who are not salaried state service employees shall be
eligible for reasonable compensation for attendance at board
meetings.
(3) All reasonable costs incurred by the board in carrying out its
duties pursuant to subdivision (a), including, staffing, travel, and
administrative costs, shall be reimbursed through the public
utilities reimbursement account and shall be part of the budget of
the commission and the commission shall consult with the board in the
preparation of that portion of the commission's annual proposed
budget.