Access to energy: disadvantaged communities: San Joaquin Valley.

(1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical and gas corporations, as defined. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires the commission to establish various programs that provide assistance to low-income electric and gas customers. This bill would require the commission, by March 31, 2015, to initiate a new proceeding to identify disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin Valley meeting specified requirements and to analyze economically feasible options to increase access to affordable energy in those disadvantaged communities. The bill also would require the commission to determine whether the options analyzed would increase access to affordable energy to those disadvantaged communities in a cost-effective manner. The bill would require the commission, for those options, to take appropriate action and determine appropriate funding sources. (2) This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the San Joaquin Valley.