Distributed generation.

(1) Existing law provides for the furnishing of utility services by public utilities, as defined, subject to the regulatory authority of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) , including the supplying of electrical service by electrical corporations. Existing law authorizes the furnishing of utility services by publicly owned public utilities, including municipal corporations, which are subject to control by their governing bodies, and municipal utility districts, public utility districts, and irrigation districts, which are subject to control by their boards of directors. This bill would require each large electrical corporation, as defined, and large local publicly owned electric utility, as defined, to provide maps and other information identifying and designating zones within their respective service territories that are optimal for deployment of distributed generation, as provided. The bill would require the PUC and large local publicly owned electric utilities to develop rules for the implementation of this requirement, as provided. By imposing requirements on local publicly owned electric utilities that are not imposed on electrical corporations, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require priority to be given for distributed generation projects proposed to be located within a zone designated pursuant to these provisions. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the PUC is a crime. Because the provisions of this bill require action by the PUC to implement its requirements, a violation of these provisions would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the definition of a crime. (2) 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.