Public utilities: eminent domain.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities. Existing law authorizes certain public utilities to condemn property, as prescribed, but prohibits specified public utilities that offer competitive services from condemning any property for the purpose of competing with another entity in the offering of those competitive services, unless the commission finds, pursuant to a petition or complaint filed by the public utility, in accordance with specified provisions that such an action would serve the public interest. This bill would provide that specified notice requirements do not apply to a condemnation eminent domain action brought by a public utility consistent with these provisions.