Public utilities: ratesetting proceedings: local publicly owned electric utilities: California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was vetoed by the governor and there is no indication that lawmakers will override this decision.

Public Utilities and Renewable Energy Standards

This bill sets rules for how public utility rates are set and extends renewable energy requirements for local electric utilities beyond December 31, 2030.

What This Bill Does

• It prohibits the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) from quickly approving rate increases over $1 billion without a full review.
• It requires at least a 30-minute public comment period before voting on any rate increase that is more than 5% for large utilities.
• It extends renewable energy requirements for local publicly owned electric utilities beyond December 31, 2030.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
• Local publicly owned electric utilities

Terms To Know

Public comment period

A time when people can give their opinions about a decision before it is made.

Renewable energy resources

Energy from sources like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power that are not depleted by use.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was vetoed by the governor.
• It does not specify what happens if a local utility fails to meet renewable energy targets after December 31, 2030.

Official Summary Text

AB 1273, Patterson.
Public utilities: ratesetting proceedings: local publicly owned electric utilities: California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires all charges demanded or received by a public utility for a product or commodity furnished or to be furnished or a service rendered or to be rendered to be just and reasonable. Existing law, except as provided, prohibits a public utility from changing a rate unless there is a showing before the PUC and a finding by the PUC that the new rate is justified. Existing law requires the PUC to publish and maintain on its internet website particular documents regarding the PUC’s agendas, actions, decisions, resolutions, rules, and other information.
This bill would prohibit the PUC from placing the consideration of
a decision in a ratesetting proceeding that would result in an increase in rates to customers of an electrical corporation that has a revenue requirement that exceeds $1,000,000,000 on its consent agenda. The bill would, except as provided, require the PUC to provide, at a meeting to vote on a decision of a ratesetting
proceeding that increases the rates of an electrical corporation’s customers by more than 5%, before its vote on the decision, a public comment period of at least 30 minutes on the decision.
Under existing law, the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program requires retail sellers and local publicly owned electric utilities to procure a minimum quantity of electricity products from eligible
renewable energy resources during certain compliance periods up to December 31, 2030. Existing law provides that a local publicly owned electric utility is not required to procure a certain amount of eligible renewable energy resources if, during a year within those compliance periods, the local publicly owned electric utility receives more than 40% of its retail sales from large hydroelectric generation under an ownership agreement or contract in effect as of January 1, 2018. Existing law authorizes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to establish appropriate multiyear compliance periods for local publicly owned electric utilities beyond December 31, 2030.
This bill would provide that the provision related to the procurement of eligible renewable energy resources by local publicly owned electric utilities also applies to the compliance periods established by the Energy Commission.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF