Electricity: interconnection rules.

Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to enforce the rules governing the extension of service by a gas or electrical corporation to new residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers. Existing law requires an electrical or gas corporation to permit a new or existing customer who applies for an extension of service from that corporation to install the extension in accordance with the regulations of the commission and any applicable specification of the corporation. This bill would provide that only those construction and design specifications, standards, terms, and conditions that are applicable to a new extension-of-service project by an electrical or gas corporation at the time the application for the extension of service is approved, as specified, apply to the new project for the 18 months following the approval date of the application. The bill would authorize an electrical or gas corporation to adopt modifications to those construction and design specifications, standards, terms, and conditions, as specified. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act is a crime. Because the above provision would be part of the act, a violation of which is 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.