Electricity: rates: public schools.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations, as defined, while local publicly owned electric and gas 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. Existing law requires public utilities to develop programs in cooperation with local school districts to reduce their electricity and gas bills through conservation and improvements in efficiency. This bill would require the commission to direct all electrical and gas corporations to evaluate, and report findings to the commission on, the feasibility and economic impacts of establishing a public school electric and gas rate that would reflect a discount from the current rate structure. This bill would require the commission to compile these reports and submit this compilation to the Legislature, by January 1, 2020. Because a violation of the commission's directions would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.