Mike McGuire
- Democratic
- Senator
- District 2
Author
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Under existing law, it is the policy of this state to achieve, whenever feasible and not inconsistent with sound environmental planning, the undergrounding of all future electric and communication distribution facilities that are proposed to be erected in proximity to designated state scenic highways and that would be visible from those highways if erected above ground. The commission's existing Electric Tariff Rule 20 establishes policies for the undergrounding of electrical facilities and includes, among other programs, the Rule 20A undergrounding program that requires electrical corporations to convert overhead electrical facilities to underground facilities when it is in the public interest for specified reasons. This bill would require the commission to establish an expedited utility distribution infrastructure undergrounding program, and would authorize only those electrical corporations with 250,000 or more customer accounts within the state to participate in the program. In order to participate in the program, the bill would require a large electrical corporation to submit a distribution infrastructure undergrounding plan, including the undergrounding projects located in tier 2 or 3 high fire-threat districts or rebuild areas that it will construct as part of the program, to the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, which would be required to approve or deny the plan within 9 months. If the office approves the large electrical corporation's plan, the bill would require the large electrical corporation to submit to the commission a copy of the plan and an application requesting review and conditional approval of the plan's costs and would require the commission to approve or deny the plan within 9 months. If the plan is approved by the office and commission, the bill would require the large electrical corporation to file specified progress reports, include additional information in its wildfire mitigation plans, hire an independent monitor to review and assess its compliance with its plan, apply for available federal, state, and other nonratepayer moneys throughout the duration of the approved plan, and use those nonratepayer moneys to reduce the program's costs on its ratepayers, as specified. The bill would authorize the commission to assess penalties on a large electrical corporation that fails to substantially comply with the commission decision approving its plan. Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because a violation of a commission action implementing this bill's requirements 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.
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 819, Statutes of 2022.
Approved by the Governor.
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 31. Noes 9. Page 5325.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
Read third time and amended.
Ordered to third reading.
Assembly Rule 69 suspended.
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (August 11).
August 3 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
June 27 hearing postponed by committee.
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and NAT. RES.
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 25. Noes 3. Page 3835.) Ordered to the Assembly.
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 3773.) (May 19).
Set for hearing May 19.
May 9 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.
Set for hearing May 9.
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1. Page 3459.) (April 20).
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on GOV. & F. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 3413.) (April 18). Re-referred to Com. on GOV. & F.
Set for hearing April 20 in GOV. & F. pending receipt.
April 21 hearing postponed by committee.
Set for hearing April 21 in GOV. & F. pending receipt.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.
Set for hearing April 18.
Referral to Com. on E.Q. rescinded because of the limitations placed on committee hearings due to ongoing health and safety risks of the COVID-19 virus.
Re-referred to Coms. on E., U. & C., GOV. & F., and E.Q.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
Art. IV. Sec. 8(a) of the Constitution dispensed with.
Joint Rule 55 suspended. (Ayes 31. Noes 6. Page 2880.)
(Ayes 31. Noes 6.)
From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 26.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
|---|---|
| SB884 | HTML |
| 01/26/22 - Introduced | |
| 03/16/22 - Amended Senate | |
| 04/07/22 - Amended Senate | |
| 04/26/22 - Amended Senate | |
| 06/13/22 - Amended Assembly | |
| 06/23/22 - Amended Assembly | |
| 08/15/22 - Amended Assembly | |
| 08/25/22 - Amended Assembly | |
| 09/01/22 - Enrolled | |
| 09/29/22 - Chaptered |
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| 04/17/22- Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications | |
| 04/18/22- Senate Governance and Finance | |
| 05/06/22- Senate Appropriations | |
| 05/21/22- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
| 06/21/22- Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy | |
| 08/01/22- Assembly Appropriations | |
| 08/17/22- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS | |
| 08/26/22- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS | |
| 08/30/22- Sen. Floor Analyses |
Data on Open States is updated periodically throughout the day from the official website of the California State Legislature.
If you notice any inconsistencies with these official sources, feel free to file an issue.