Electrical corporations: interconnection: transmission: permitting: auditor.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not specify what enforcement actions would be taken if a company fails to adhere to timelines or submit false information.

Electric Companies: Rules for Connecting to Power Grid and Building Projects

The bill sets rules for large electric companies about connecting to the power grid, building projects, and hiring independent auditors to check their work.

What This Bill Does

• Requires large electrical corporations to start the process of getting permission from the Public Utilities Commission within one year after a transmission plan or generator interconnection agreement is made.
• Allows these companies to ask for more time if they have good reasons, but requires them to explain why in writing.
• If a company does not follow the rules about when to apply for permission, the commission can take enforcement action against them.
• Starting January 1, 2027, large electrical corporations must hire an independent auditor to check their work on connecting to the power grid and building projects.
• The auditor will report back to the Public Utilities Commission each year with findings about the company's progress and compliance.

Who It Names or Affects

• Large electrical corporations in California
• The Public Utilities Commission

Terms To Know

Public Utilities Commission (PUC)

A government agency that regulates public utilities like electricity and gas companies.

Independent System Operator (ISO)

An organization responsible for managing the flow of electricity across the grid to ensure reliable supply.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a company fails to hire an auditor or submits false information.
• It is unclear how much it will cost companies to comply with these new rules.

Official Summary Text

AB 2493, as amended, Petrie-Norris.
Electrical corporations: interconnection: transmission: permitting: auditor.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires the commission, if it determines that the rules, practices, equipment, appliances, facilities, or service of a public utility, or the methods of manufacture, distribution, transmission, storage, or supply used by the public utility, are unjust, unreasonable, unsafe, improper, inadequate, or insufficient, to determine and fix the rules, practices, equipment, appliances, facilities, service, or methods to be observed, furnished, constructed, enforced, or employed.
This bill would, within one year following the adoption of each transmission plan produced by the Independent System Operator through the transmission planning process, or a successor process, and within one year following the
execution of a generator interconnection agreement, require each large electrical corporation that is assigned or obligated to construct a project that requires approval by the commission to initiate permitting for the project by filing an application or other notice, as applicable, pursuant to a specific general order. The bill would authorize a large electrical corporation to request an extension of the filing deadline by demonstrating good cause in a written notice to the commission, as provided. If a large electrical corporation fails to adhere to these timelines, or to make a timely extension request, the bill would require the commission to take appropriate enforcement action, as specified.
This bill would require, beginning January 1, 2027, the commission to require each large electrical corporation, as defined, to retain an independent third-party auditor to review certain transmission- and interconnection-related submissions made by the large electrical
corporation, the large electrical corporation’s progress on completing network upgrades following approval in a generator interconnection agreement or transmission plan approved by the Independent System Operator,
the large electrical corporation’s compliance with the above-described permitting deadlines,
and the large electrical corporation’s compliance with any remedial actions ordered by the commission, as specified. The bill would require the third-party auditor to report to the commission on an annual basis, as provided. Within 90 days of receiving the auditor’s report, the bill would require the commission to issue a resolution directing a large electrical corporation to take remedial actions to address any and all deficiencies identified by the auditor, as specified.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision,
rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the above-described provisions would be part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing the above-described provisions would be a crime, this 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