An act to add Section 671 to the Penal Code, and to add Section 2774.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to crime, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. This bill would double the maximum or prescribed amounts of fines and penalties for offenses committed when the person knew, or reasonably should have known, that the location where the crime occurred was without electrical power because an electrical supplier discontinued electrical power during a severe energy shortage. Because this bill creates an enhancement, it would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law provides that in the event that any electrical or gas corporation experiences any shortage of electricity or gas, as specified, and is unable to obtain electricity or gas from any other source so that it is unable to meet the demand of its customers, the Public Utilities Commission is authorized to order that service be temporarily reduced, as specified. This bill would require an electrical corporation or public entity that provides electric power to immediately notify, as specified, the sheriff and any affected chief of police of the specific area within their respective law enforcement jurisdiction that will sustain a planned loss of power as soon as the planned loss becomes known as to when and where that power loss will occur.
Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it an urgency statute, to take effect immediately. The maximum or prescribed amounts of fines and penalties for offenses subject to this section shall be doubled. However, the maximum penalty for a misdemeanor shall not be greater than one year in a county jail. The notification shall include common geographical boundaries, grid or block numbers of the effected area, and the next anticipated power loss area designated by the electrical corporation or public entity during rotating blackouts.