Electric service: rates: Family Electric Rate Assistance program.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas 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. Existing law requires the commission to ensure that low-income ratepayers are not jeopardized or overburdened by monthly energy expenditures and authorizes the commission to reduce energy expenditures through the establishment of different rates for low-income ratepayers, different levels of rate assistance, and energy efficiency programs. Existing law requires the commission to establish a program of assistance to low-income electric and gas customers, referred to as the California Alternate Rates for Energy or CARE program. Eligibility for the CARE program is for those electric and gas customers with annual household incomes that are no greater than 200% of the federal poverty guideline levels. Existing decisions of the commission establish the Family Electric Rate Assistance or FERA program for the state's 3 largest electrical corporations to provide specified discounts to residential customers that are families of 3 or more persons with total household annual gross income levels between 200% and 250% of the federal poverty guideline level. This bill would require the commission to continue the FERA program for the state's 3 largest electrical corporations and would require that the program discount be an 18% line-item discount applied to an eligible customer's bill calculated at the applicable rate for a monthly or other billing period. The bill would authorize the state's 3 largest electrical corporations to increase or expand marketing and outreach efforts regarding the FERA program beyond those in effect as of December 31, 2018. 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. By amending the act, this 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.