Advanced electrical distributed generation technology.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. The existing definition of an electrical corporation excludes a corporation or person employing cogeneration, as defined, technology or producing electricity from other than a conventional power source for certain purposes. Existing law places certain limitations upon gas rates and surcharges charged cogenerators. Existing law prohibits placing alternative fuel capability requirements upon gas customers that use gas for purposes of cogeneration. Existing law authorizes the commission and the State Air Resources Board to treat advanced electrical distributed generation technology, as defined, as cogeneration, and makes certain existing limitations upon gas rates and surcharges charged cogenerators applicable to an advanced electrical distributed generation technology. Existing law makes the prohibition upon placing alternative fuel capability requirements upon gas customers that use gas for purposes of cogeneration applicable to a generator using advanced electrical distributed generation technology. These provisions do not apply to an advanced electrical distributed generation technology that is first operational at a site on and after January 1, 2014. This bill would make the above-described authority, limitations, and prohibitions inapplicable to an advanced electrical distributed generation technology that is first operational at a site on and after January 1, 2016, rather than January 1, 2014. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.