This bill would exempt public or private schools and public or private preschool programs from involuntary electric service interruptions required by the Independent System Operator during any state of emergency declared by the Independent System Operator. Since a violation of the act is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime. Under existing law, utilities provide interruptible load programs to participants who agree to give utilities the discretion to curtail their electric service in exchange for reduced rates. This bill would require the commission to rescind its interim decision, with respect to schools and postsecondary educational institutions, that prevents participants from opting out of the interruptible load program. 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. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. The commission shall take all necessary action to immediately rescind its suspension of the portion of the interruptible load program for schools and postsecondary educational institutions that allows participants to opt-out of the program or change their level of service. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. In order to immediately protect the children and staff in schools and preschool programs from disruptive and potentially dangerous involuntary electric service interruptions, and to grant immediate relief to certain participants of the interruptible load program that are currently unable to opt out, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.