Electricity: rates.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical 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, prior to 2014, limited the rates charged to residential customers for electricity usage up to the baseline quantity, as specified, and authorized the commission to limit the increase in residential rates for electricity usage up to 130% of baseline to not more than 5% per year. Under its existing authority, the commission has authorized San Diego Gas and Electric to assess on customers with usage in excess of 130% of the baseline quantity a charge that reflects the cost shift resulting from the capped residential rates for usage up to 130% of baseline quantity. This bill would require the commission to require San Diego Gas and Electric, upon application by a customer who is 65 years of age or older and resides in a residence that is 2,000 square feet or less, to exempt the customer from above-described charge for usage in excess of 130% of the baseline quantity. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of an order or decision of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for San Diego Gas and Electric. 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.