BILL NUMBER: AB 1149	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 26, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 8, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Aroner

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act relating to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1149, as amended, Aroner.  Underground electric and 
telephone   communications  facilities.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities and, under that authority, has
adopted  a tariff   tariffs  for the
replacement of overhead electric  and communications 
facilities with underground facilities.
   This bill would require the commission to conduct a study as to
the ways to amend and improve  the tariff  those
tariffs  , as specified.  The commission would be required to
submit a report on the study to the Legislature on or before January
1, 2001.
   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.  (a) The Public Utilities Commission shall conduct a
study as to the ways to amend and improve  Tariff 20
  tariffs governing the replacement of overhead electric
and communications facilities with underground facilities  .
The issues to be addressed shall include, but not be limited to, all
of the following:
   (1) Discovering and eliminating barriers to establishing
continuity of the existing underground system and ways to eliminate
uneven patches of overhead facilities.
   (2) How to enhance public safety.
   (3) How to improve reliability.
   (4) How to provide more flexibility to local governments.
   (b) Notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government Code, the
Public Utilities Commission shall submit a report on the study
required by subdivision (a) to the Legislature on or before January
1, 2001.