Cal. PUC § 849.4 — California Code / Code puc / Division 1 / Part 1 / Chapter 4 / Article 5.7 / Section 849.4
Section 849.4
Status: in_force

(a) A security interest in water supply property is valid, is enforceable against the pledgor and third parties, is subject to the rights of any third party holding a security interest in the water supply property perfected in the manner described in this section, and attaches when all of the following occur:

(1) The commission has issued the financing order authorizing the water supply charges included in the water supply property.

(2) Value has been given by the pledgees of the water supply property.

(3) The pledgor has signed a security agreement that includes an indenture or financing agreement relating to the issuance of the water rater relief bonds covering the water supply property.

(b) A valid and enforceable security interest in water supply property is perfected when it has attached and when a financing statement has been filed in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 9501) of Division 9 of the Commercial Code, naming the pledgor of the water supply property as “debtor” and identifying the water supply property. Any description of the water supply property shall be sufficient if it refers to the financing order creating the water supply property. A copy of the financing statement shall be filed with the commission by the qualifying water utility that is the pledgor or transferor of the water supply property, and the commission may require the qualifying water utility to make other filings with respect to the security interest in accordance with procedures it may establish, provided that the filings do not affect the perfection of the security interest.

(c) A perfected security interest in water supply property is a continuously perfected security interest in all revenues and proceeds arising with respect to the water supply property, whether or not the revenues or proceeds have accrued. Conflicting security interests shall rank according to priority in time of perfection. Water supply property shall constitute property for all purposes, including for contracts securing water rate relief bonds, whether or not the revenues and proceeds arising with respect to the water supply property have accrued.

(d) Subject to the terms of the security agreement covering the water supply property and the rights of any third party holding a security interest in the water supply property perfected in the manner described in this section, the validity and relative priority of a security interest created under this section is not defeated or adversely affected by the commingling of revenues arising with respect to the water supply property with other funds of the qualifying water utility that is the pledgor or transferor of the water supply property, or by any security interest in a deposit account of that qualifying water utility perfected under Division 9 (commencing with Section 9101) of the Commercial Code into which the revenues are deposited. Subject to the terms of the security agreement, upon compliance with the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 9312 of the Commercial Code, the pledgees of the water supply property shall have a perfected security interest in all cash and deposit accounts of the qualifying water utility in which revenues arising with respect to the water supply property have been commingled with other funds, but the perfected security interest shall be limited to an amount not greater than the amount of the revenues with respect to the water supply property received by the qualifying water utility within 12 months before either of the following:

(1) A default under the security agreement.

(2) The institution of insolvency proceedings by or against the qualifying water utility, less payments from the revenues to the pledgees during that 12-month period.

(e) If a default occurs under the security agreement covering the water supply property, the pledgees of the water supply property, subject to the terms of the security agreement, shall have all rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under Division 9 (commencing with Section 9101) of the Commercial Code, and shall be entitled to foreclose or otherwise enforce their security interest in the water supply property, subject to the rights of any third party holding a prior security interest in the water supply property perfected in the manner provided in this section. In addition, the commission may require, in the financing order creating the water supply property, that in the event of default by the qualifying water utility in payment of revenues arising with respect to the water supply property, the commission and any successor to the commission, upon the application by the pledgees or transferees, including transferees under Section 849.5, of the water supply property, and without limiting any other remedies available to the pledgees or transferees by reason of the default, shall order the sequestration and payment to the pledgees or transferees of revenues arising with respect to the water supply property. Any order shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding bankruptcy, reorganization, or other insolvency proceedings with respect to the debtor, pledgor, or transferor of the water supply property. Any surplus in excess of amounts necessary to pay principal, premium, if any, interest on the water rate relief bonds, and other financing costs arising under the security agreement, shall be remitted to the debtor or to the pledgor or transferor.

(f) Sections 9204 and 9205 of the Commercial Code shall apply to a pledge of water supply property by a qualifying water utility, an affiliate of a qualifying water utility, or a financing entity, other than a public financing entity.

(g) (1) This section sets forth the terms by which a consensual security interest shall be created and perfected in the water supply property. Unless otherwise ordered by the commission with respect to any series of water rate relief bonds on or before the issuance of the series, there shall exist a statutory lien as provided in this subdivision.

(2) Upon the effective date of the financing order, there shall exist a first priority lien on all water supply property then existing or thereafter arising pursuant to the terms of the financing order. This lien shall automatically arise pursuant to this section without any action on the part of the qualifying water utility, any affiliate of the qualifying water utility, the issuing entity, or any other person. This lien shall secure all obligations, then existing and subsequently arising, to the holders of the water rate relief bonds issued pursuant to the financing order, the trustee or representative for the holders, and any other entity specified in the financing order. The persons for whose benefit this lien is established shall, upon occurrence of any defaults specified in the financing order, have all rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 9 of the Commercial Code, and shall be entitled to foreclose or otherwise enforce this statutory lien in the water supply property. This lien shall attach to the water supply property regardless of who shall own, or shall subsequently be determined to own, the water supply property, including any qualifying water utility, affiliate of the qualifying water utility, financing entity, or any other person. This lien shall be valid, perfected, and enforceable against the owner of the water supply property and all third parties upon the effectiveness of the financing order without any further public notice, provided, however, that any person may, but shall not be required to, file a financing statement in accordance with subdivision (b). These financing statements may be protective filings and shall not be evidence of the ownership of the water supply property.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Section 5451 of the Government Code shall apply to any pledge by the public financing entity of water supply property or other security for any water rate relief bonds issued by a public financing entity.