AB 61

Bill Subjects

Electricity And Natural Gas Legislation Imposing Mandated Program And Requirements Third-Party Review

Abstract

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. The Public Advocate's Office of the Public Utilities Commission is established as an independent office within the commission to represent and advocate on behalf of the interests of public utility customers and subscribers within the jurisdiction of the commission. This bill would request the office to establish, by January 1, 2027, a program to, upon request of the Legislature, analyze legislation that would establish a mandated requirement or program or otherwise affect electrical or gas ratepayers, as specified. The bill would request the office to develop and implement conflict-of-interest provisions that would prohibit a person from participating in an analysis for which the person knows or has reasons to know that the person has a financial interest. The bill would establish the Energy Programs Benefit Fund in the State Treasury and continuously appropriate the moneys in the fund to the office to support the work of the office in providing analyses under the bill. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2031.