Electricity: power outages: bill credits.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. 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. This bill would require electrical corporations, on or before July 1, 2018, to establish utility service guarantee programs. The bill would require the programs to automatically provide each customer that experiences an outage for a continuous 24-hour period a $30 bill credit for each continuous 24-hour period that the customer was without power, which would be borne exclusively by the shareholders of the electrical corporations. The bill would also require electrical corporations to engage in public outreach and educate the public about the program to increase public awareness. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of an order or decision of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime. 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.