Public utilities: electrical and communication infrastructure: undergrounding.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Under existing law, the Legislature has declared that it is the policy of this state to achieve, whenever feasible and not inconsistent with sound environmental planning, the undergrounding of all future electric and communication distribution facilities that are proposed to be erected in proximity to designated state scenic highways and that would be visible from those highways if erected above ground. The commission's existing Tariff Rule 20A undergrounding program requires electrical corporations to convert overhead electric facilities to underground facilities when doing so is in the public interest for specified reasons. This bill would require the commission to revise Tariff Rule 20A to authorize and fund the undergrounding of electrical and communication infrastructure within high fire-threat districts and the wildland-urban interface. Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because a violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission implementing the provisions of this bill 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.