BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 580
                                                                  Page  1


          SENATE THIRD READING
          SB 580 (Escutia)
          As Amended April 26, 2005
          Majority vote 

           SENATE VOTE  :31-8  
           
           UTILITIES & COMMERCE         6-4APPROPRIATIONS      13-5        
           
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Ayes:|Levine, Baca, Calderon,   |Ayes:|Chu, Bass, Berg,          |
          |     |De La Torre, Jerome       |     |Calderon, Karnette,       |
          |     |Horton, Ridley Thomas     |     |Klehs, Leno, Nation,      |
          |     |                          |     |Oropeza, Laird, Saldana,  |
          |     |                          |     |Yee, Mullin               |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
          |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
          |Nays:|Bogh, Blakeslee, Keene,   |Nays:|Sharon Runner, Emerson,   |
          |     |Wyland                    |     |Haynes, Nakanishi,        |
          |     |                          |     |Walters                   |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 

           SUMMARY  :  Expands California Public Utilities Commission (PUC)  
          Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB) purview to include water  
          utility customer issues in addition to the existing electric and  
          gas customer issues.  

           EXISTING LAW  : 

          1)Establishes LIOB to advise PUC on low-income electric and gas  
            customer issues and serve as a liaison for PUC to low-income  
            ratepayers and representatives. 

          2)Requires PUC to consider, and permits PUC to implement  
            programs to assist low-income ratepayers in order to provide  
            appropriate incentives and capabilities to achieve water  
            conservation goals.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Unknown

           COMMENTS  :  The purpose of this bill is to more effectively  
          implement Public Utilities Code Section 739.8, which requires  
          PUC to consider, and permits PUC to implement programs to  
          provide rate relief for low-income ratepayers.  Current law  








                                                                  SB 580
                                                                  Page  2


          requires LIOB to advise PUC on low-income electric and gas  
          customer issues.  Current law also requires PUC to consider  
          programs to assist low-income water ratepayers; however, it  
          permits PUC to determine the feasibility of rate relief and  
          provides PUC the prerogative to implement a program.

          This bill would add water issues to LIOB's purview; however, it  
          would not change current law to require PUC to implement  
          programs.  LIOB can currently discuss water issues and according  
          to the author, PUC has unsuccessfully attempted to address water  
          rate issues for low-income customers in a number of rate cases.   



           Analysis Prepared by  :    Gina Mandy / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083 


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