BILL NUMBER: AB 2638	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Calderon

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2000

   An act to amend Section 783 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2638, as introduced, Calderon.  Public utilities: extension of
service.
   The Public Utilities Act requires the Public Utilities Commission
to continue to enforce the rules governing the extension of service
by gas and electrical corporations to new residential, commercial,
agricultural, and industrial customers in effect on January 1, 1982,
except as specified.
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes in those
provisions.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  no.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 783 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   783.  (a) The commission shall continue to enforce the rules
governing the extension of service by gas and electrical corporations
to new residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial
customers in effect on January 1, 1982, except that the commission
shall amend the existing rules to permit applicants for service to
install extensions in accordance with subdivision (f).  Except for
periodic review provisions of existing rules, and amendments to
permit installations by an applicant's contractor, the commission
 shall   may  not investigate amending
these rules or issue any orders or decisions  which 
 that  amend these rules, unless the investigation or
proceeding for the issuance of the order or decision is conducted
pursuant to subdivision (b).
   (b) Whenever the commission institutes an investigation into the
terms and conditions for the extension of services provided by gas
and electrical corporations to new or existing customers, or
considers issuing an order or decision amending those terms or
conditions, the commission shall make written findings on all of the
following issues:
   (1) The economic effect of the line and service extension terms
and conditions upon agriculture, residential housing, mobilehome
parks, rural customers, urban customers, employment, and commercial
and industrial building and development.
   (2) The effect of requiring new or existing customers applying for
an extension to an electrical or gas corporation to provide
transmission or distribution facilities for other customers who will
apply to receive line and service extensions in the future.
   (3) The effect of requiring a new or existing customer applying
for an extension to an electrical or gas corporation to be
responsible for the distribution of, reinforcements of, relocations
of, or additions to that gas or electrical corporation.
   (4) The economic effect of the terms and conditions upon projects,
including redevelopment projects, funded or sponsored by cities,
counties, or districts.
   (5) The effect of the line and service extension regulations, and
any modifications to them, on existing ratepayers.
   (6) The effect of the line and service extension regulations, and
any modifications to them, on the consumption and conservation of
energy.
   (7) The extent to which there is cost-justification for a special
line and service extension allowance for agriculture.
   (c) The commission shall request the assistance of appropriate
state agencies and departments in conducting any investigation or
proceeding pursuant to subdivision (b), including, but not limited
to, the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, the Department
of Food and Agriculture, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the
Department of Real Estate, the Department of Housing and Community
Development, and the Department of Economic and Business Development.

   (d) Any new order or decision issued pursuant to an investigation
or proceeding conducted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall become
effective on July 1 of the year  which follows  
following  the year when the new order or decision is adopted
by the commission, so as to ensure that the public has at least six
months to consider the new order or decision.
   (e) The commission shall conduct any investigation or proceeding
pursuant to subdivision (b) within the commission's existing budget,
and any state agency or department  which  that
 is requested by the commission to provide assistance pursuant
to subdivision (c) shall also provide the assistance within the
agency's or department's existing budget.
   (f) An electrical or gas corporation shall permit any new or
existing customer who applies for an extension of service from that
corporation to install a gas or electric extension in accordance with
the regulations of the commission and any applicable specifications
of that electrical or gas corporation.