Electricity: rates: default time-of-use pricing.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. Existing law permits the commission to authorize an electrical corporation to offer residential customers the option of receiving service pursuant to time-variant pricing, as defined, and to participate in other demand reduction response programs, but prohibits the commission from authorizing an electrical corporation to employ mandatory or default time-variant pricing for any residential customer, except that beginning January 1, 2018, the commission may require or authorize an electrical corporation to employ default time-of-use pricing for residential customers, subject to specified limitations and conditions. This bill would require the commission to first explicitly consider evidence addressing the extent to which hardship will be caused to customers living in hot, inland areas, and residential customers living in areas with hot summer weather before it could require or authorize an electrical corporation to employ default time-of-use rates for residential customers.