Public utilities: facility modernization.

The Public Utilities Act vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires those rates to be just and reasonable. Existing law authorizes the commission, after a hearing, to make and serve an order directing additions, extensions, repairs, improvements, or other changes be made to existing plant, equipment, apparatus, facilities, or other physical property of a public utility, if it makes certain findings. This bill would require the commission to require an electrical or gas corporation to give preference to the modernization of its facilities serving disadvantaged communities if the corporation is authorized to collect ratepayer funds for the modernization of its facilities. 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 are within the act, a violation of these provisions 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.