Community choice aggregators: eligible transmission projects.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how community choice aggregators will decide which projects to fund, nor does it explicitly state that failure to follow Public Utilities Commission rules would result in criminal charges. The bill's final approval status is uncertain as it has been re-referred.

Community Choice Aggregators Can Build Transmission Lines

The bill allows community choice aggregators to build and own electrical transmission lines and related facilities, even if the lines are not used for their customers' electricity.

What This Bill Does

• Allows community choice aggregators to sponsor, develop, finance, construct, operate, lease, purchase, and maintain electrical transmission lines and substations.
• Permits community choice aggregators to own eligible transmission projects regardless of whether the lines serve their customers directly.

Who It Names or Affects

• Community choice aggregators
• Public Utilities Commission

Terms To Know

community choice aggregator

A local government agency that buys electricity for its community instead of a traditional utility company.

eligible transmission projects

Projects related to building and maintaining electrical transmission lines that can receive special financing from the state.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify who will pay for the new transmission lines.
• The bill's final approval is pending, as it has been re-referred to a committee.

Official Summary Text

AB 2396, as amended, Irwin.
Community choice aggregators:
electrical transmission lines.
eligible transmission projects.
Existing law authorizes a community choice aggregator to aggregate the electrical load of interested electricity consumers within its boundaries and requires a community choice aggregator to file an implementation plan with the Public Utilities Commission, to register with the commission, and to enter into an operating service agreement with an electrical corporation.
Existing law requires the Energy Unit within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to establish a Transmission Infrastructure Accelerator (accelerator) to develop a financing and development strategy for eligible transmission projects, as defined, to receive California Transmission Accelerator financing, and requires the accelerator to take the necessary steps to accelerate the development and deployment of those
projects to maximize ratepayer savings.
This bill would authorize a community choice aggregator to
sponsor,
develop, finance, construct, operate, lease, purchase, and
maintain electrical transmission lines, and any substations, or other works, facilities, improvements, and property necessary or convenient for the operation of those electrical transmission lines,
own an eligible transmission project,
regardless of whether the electrical transmission lines are used for the purpose of conveying electricity to the customers of the community choice aggregator.
Under existing law, a violation of an order,
decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because a violation of a commission action implementing the provisions of this bill would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF