Electricity: rates: proposed investments: data.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined, while local publicly owned electric utilities, as defined, are under the direction of their governing boards. Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities 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 local publicly owned electric utilities, when adjusting their rates, to collect and analyze data supporting their proposed investments in the electrical grid. The bill would require those utilities to make that data and analysis publicly available and, upon request, to electronically transfer that data and analysis to the requester. The bill would require that the data and analysis be in a digital, machine-readable format. This bill would require the commission to consider providing the public with access to data, in a digital, machine-readable format, related to proposed investments in the electrical grid by electrical corporations, to the degree that the access is feasible and protects both grid security and privacy. By imposing additional duties on local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because a violation of an order or decision of the commission implementing the requirements of the bill 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 specified reasons.