Today's Law As Amended


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AB-1233 Public utilities: transportation charges.(2001-2002)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.
 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) California is one of the largest producers of oil and natural gas in the nation.
(b) California is one of the largest consumers of oil and natural gas in the nation.
(c) Natural gas is a crucial commodity that is necessary for electricity production, residential heating, commodity production, and industrial manufacturing.
(d) The price of electricity is tied closely to the price of natural gas.
(e) Despite having significant untapped reserves of natural gas, California remains heavily dependent upon out-of-state gas deliveries.
(f) It is in the state’s long-term economic interest to promote policies that maximize the use of available in-state resources and encourage the increased production of natural gas.
(g) It is also in the state’s long-term economic interest to maximize the development of renewable energy sources, decrease its overall dependence on natural gas, and create a more diverse mix of energy supplies and energy efficiency measures.
(h) To the extent practicable, and consistent with Sections 785 and 785.5 of the Public Utilities Code, the Public Utilities Commission should not adopt a tariff that has the effect of discouraging in-state production or storage of natural gas.

SEC. 2.

 Section 785.2 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:

785.2.
 The commission shall investigate, as part of the rate proceeding for any gas corporation, impediments to the in-state production and storage of natural gas. The commission may adopt a tariff that encourages in-state production or storage of natural gas, including, but not limited to, reducing local transmission rates applicable to in-state gas blends, unless the commission finds that adopting the tariff will likely result in consequences adverse to the interests of gas customers.
SEC. 3.
 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.