AB 983 — Transportation electrification.

Summary

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law, enacted as part of the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015, requires the PUC, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and the State Air Resources Board, to direct electrical corporations to file applications for programs and investments to accelerate widespread transportation electrification to reduce dependence on petroleum, meet air quality standards, achieve the goals set forth in the Charge Ahead California Initiative, and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. That law requires that the programs proposed by electrical corporations seek to minimize overall costs and maximize overall benefits. The commission is required to approve, or modify and approve, programs and investments in transportation electrification, including those that deploy charging infrastructure, through a reasonable cost recovery mechanism, if they are consistent with the above-described purposes, do not unfairly compete with nonutility enterprises, include performance accountability measures, and are in the interests of ratepayers. This bill would require an electrical corporation to work with local agencies or regional planning agencies in its service territory with responsibility for planning electric vehicle deployment to determine where to install new electrical charging stations along local transit corridors. The bill would authorize an electrical corporation to file an application with the PUC by December 31, 2020, with the support of the local or regional planning agency, for the infrastructure investments required to support electrical charging stations at transit corridor entry and exit points or other locations. The bill would require the application to prioritize the installment of charging stations in disadvantaged communities, as defined. The bill would require the PUC to review, modify, if appropriate, and decide whether to approve an application filed by an electrical corporation and supported by the local or regional planning agency. The bill would authorize an electrical corporation to propose a cost allocation methodology that allocates costs in a reasonable manner and would require the PUC to approve the cost allocation methodology if the commission finds that the application would minimize overall costs and maximize overall benefits and is in the interests of ratepayers. The bill would require that the charging stations be installed by the utility workforce, or by workers who are paid the prevailing wage for all program-related work. 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. Because the provisions of 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 therefore be a crime, the 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.

Bill Text

Action History

1. February 03, 2020

   From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

2. January 31, 2020

   Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

3. April 01, 2019

   In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

4. March 07, 2019

   Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and C. & C.

5. February 22, 2019

   From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.

6. February 21, 2019

   Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Tasha Boerner · Primary
• Gloria · Cosponsor

Subjects