BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                          AB 995
                                                          Page  1

Date of Hearing:   April 19, 1999

             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON UTILITIES AND COMMERCE 
                        Roderick Wright, Chair
             AB 995 (Wright) - As Amended:  April 14, 1999
  
SUBJECT  :   Electric restructuring: transmission grid.

  SUMMARY  :   Provides policy direction for the upgrades, enhancements,  
or additions to the transmission grid.  Specifically,  this bill  :  

1)Establishes that the continued efficient use and reliable operation  
  of the transmission grid is critical to this state.

2)Establishes that the efficiency and reliability of the transmission  
  grid should be key considerations when upgrades, enhancements or  
  additions to the transmission grid, transmission planning, siting  
  and permitting process are developed.

3)Requires the Independent System Operator (ISO) to coordinate with  
  participating utility transmission owners to implement the  
  above-stated policies.  

  EXISTING LAW   authorizes the California Public Utilities Commission  
(CPUC) to conduct the permitting process for investor-owned utility  
transmission projects.

Authorizes the California Energy Commission to conduct the permitting  
process for generation facilities 50MW and above.  

  FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown.

  COMMENTS  :   Electric restructuring in California resulted in unbundled  
transmission service.  Transmission planning is a continuous process.   
Presently, both transmission owners and ISO have roles in the planning  
of a reliable grid.  The roles and responsibility are unclear and need  
to be more clearly defined.  

The author has been in discussion with numerous affected parties  
including the transmission owners, ISO, Electricity Oversight Board,  
and municipal utilities.  This bill is an opportunity to develop clear  
policies for transmission planning to ensure a reliable transmission  
grid for California's electricity customers.

  REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   








                                                          AB 995
                                                          Page  2

  Support 

Southern California Edison  (Sponsor)

  Opposition  

None on file.
  
Analysis Prepared by  :    Carolyn Veal -Hunter / U. & C. / (916)  
319-2083