California 2013-2014 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 1277 — Electricity: electrical restructuring: Independent System Operator.

Last action — From committee without further action.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2013-2014 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish rules for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature. The Public Utilities Act imposes various duties and responsibilities on the Public Utilities Commission with respect to the purchase of electricity and requires the commission to review and adopt a procurement plan and a renewable energy procurement plan for each electrical corporation pursuant to the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program. The existing restructuring of the electrical industry within the Public Utilities Act provides for the establishment of an Independent System Operator as a nonprofit public benefit corporation. Existing law requires the Independent System Operator to make certain filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and to seek authority from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as needed to give the Independent System Operator the ability to secure generating and transmission resources necessary to guarantee achievement of planning and operating reserve criteria no less stringent than those established by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and the North American Electric Reliability Council. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission, in consultation with the Independent System Operator, to establish resource adequacy requirements for all load-serving entities, as defined, in accordance with specified objectives and requires each load-serving entity to maintain physical generating capacity adequate to meet its load requirements, including peak demand and planning and operating reserves, deliverable to locations and at times as may be necessary to provide reliable electric service. The Public Utilities Commission has opened a rulemaking proceeding to consider revisions to the existing reliability framework for electrical resource and transmission planning and procurement processes pursuant to a Joint Reliability Plan adopted by the Public Utilities Commission and the Board of Governors of the Independent System Operator. This bill would prohibit the Independent System Operator from submitting any proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that seeks approval of a new auction or market-based mechanism for forward procurement of electricity or capacity products to implement the Joint Reliability Plan in California unless it first obtains the formal concurrence of the Public Utilities Commission. If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approves the mechanism, the bill would prohibit the Independent System Operator from proposing or endorsing any modification to the approved mechanism, unless it first obtains the formal concurrence of the Public Utilities Commission. The bill would prohibit the Public Utilities Commission from formally concurring in these proposals unless it reasonably concludes that specified principles of the state will not be diminished.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. From committee without further action.

  2. Held in committee and under submission.

  3. Set for hearing May 23.

  4. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  5. Set for hearing May 19.

  6. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  7. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 3. Page 3295.) (April 29).

  8. Set for hearing April 29.

  9. Re-referred to Com. on E., U., & C.

  10. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  11. Referred to Com. on RLS.

  12. Read first time.

  13. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 25.

  14. Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

  • Steinberg · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Steinberg

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Votes

Subjects

technology energy
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1277 do?
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish rules for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature. The Public Utilities Act imposes various duties and responsibilities on the Public Utilities Commission with respect to the purchase of electricity and requires the commission to review and adopt a procurement plan and a renewable energy procurement plan for each electrical corporation pursuant to the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program. The existing restructuring of the electrical industry within the Public Utilities Act provides for the establishment of an Independent System Operator as a nonprofit public benefit corporation. Existing law requires the Independent System Operator to make certain filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and to seek authority from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as needed to give the Independent System Operator the ability to secure generating and transmission resources necessary to guarantee achievement of planning and operating reserve criteria no less stringent than those established by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and the North American Electric Reliability Council. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission, in consultation with the Independent System Operator, to establish resource adequacy requirements for all load-serving entities, as defined, in accordance with specified objectives and requires each load-serving entity to maintain physical generating capacity adequate to meet its load requirements, including peak demand and planning and operating reserves, deliverable to locations and at times as may be necessary to provide reliable electric service. The Public Utilities Commission has opened a rulemaking proceeding to consider revisions to the existing reliability framework for electrical resource and transmission planning and procurement processes pursuant to a Joint Reliability Plan adopted by the Public Utilities Commission and the Board of Governors of the Independent System Operator. This bill would prohibit the Independent System Operator from submitting any proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that seeks approval of a new auction or market-based mechanism for forward procurement of electricity or capacity products to implement the Joint Reliability Plan in California unless it first obtains the formal concurrence of the Public Utilities Commission. If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approves the mechanism, the bill would prohibit the Independent System Operator from proposing or endorsing any modification to the approved mechanism, unless it first obtains the formal concurrence of the Public Utilities Commission. The bill would prohibit the Public Utilities Commission from formally concurring in these proposals unless it reasonably concludes that specified principles of the state will not be diminished.
Who sponsors SB 1277?
SB 1277 is sponsored by Steinberg.
What is the current status of SB 1277?
This bill died with 2013-2014 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 1277?
Track SB 1277 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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