reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 728.2.

728.2. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the commission shall have no jurisdiction or control over classified telephone directories or commercial advertising included as part of the corporation’s alphabetical telephone directories, including the charges for and the form and content of such advertising, except that the commission shall investigate and consider revenues and expenses with regard to the acceptance and publication of such advertising for purposes of establishing rates for other services offered by telephone corporations.
(b) If the commission determines, after a hearing, that any federal action would impair its ability to investigate and consider revenues and expenses with regard to the acceptance and publication of telephone directory advertising for the purpose of establishing rates for other services offered by any telephone corporation, the commission shall have the jurisdiction to regulate commercial advertising in alphabetical and classified directories of telephone corporations, except as provided in this subdivision.
(1) The commission’s jurisdiction to regulate commercial advertising in alphabetical and classified directories of telephone corporations under this subdivision shall be limited to the rates and charges for commercial directory advertising, except that the commission shall investigate and consider revenues and expenses of telephone corporations related to that advertising for purposes of establishing rates for other services offered by telephone corporations.
(2) The commission shall also have no jurisdiction over the following:
(i) The form and content of the advertising in alphabetical and classified directories of telephone corporations.
(ii) The form and content of the directories in which that advertising appears.
(iii) Directory advertising practices.
(iv) The determination of the geographic areas served by those directories.
(v) Complaints by any corporation or person regarding directory advertising.
(3) The commission, by its own motion or on petition of any telephone corporation, may, after a hearing, issue an order relinquishing the jurisdiction assumed under this subdivision, except its jurisdiction to investigate and consider the revenues and expenses specified in paragraph (1) if the commission determines that relinquishing the jurisdiction will not affect its ability to investigate and consider those revenues and expenses. As used in this subdivision, “federal action” means the introduction of a bill in Congress, an order of the Federal Communications Commission, or an order or decision of any federal court which would prohibit state regulatory agencies which have no jurisdiction over directory advertising from considering revenues from this source for ratemaking purposes.
(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1175, Sec. 1. Effective September 20, 1982.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 728.3.

728.3. (a) No telephone corporation operating within a service area shall remove any public telephone unless it has posted on the public telephone for not less than 30 days a notice, in a manner and form approved by the commission, indicating that the public telephone is to be removed and containing the appropriate telephone number of the commission which a customer may call for further information.
(b) This section shall not apply when a public telephone is removed for public safety or public nuisance purposes or at the request of the owner or lessee of the property on which the public telephone is located.
(Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1172, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 728.4.

728.4. A telephone corporation shall list a telephone number as the number for a facsimile machine in its alphabetical or classified directory only if requested to do so by the subscriber.
(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 973, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 728.5.

728.5. (a) The commission may establish rates or charges for the transportation of passengers and freight by railroads and other transportation companies, except motor carriers of property, and no railroad or other transportation company under its jurisdiction, except motor carriers of property, shall charge or demand or collect or receive a greater or less or different compensation for that transportation of passengers or freight, or for any service in connection therewith, between the points named in any tariff of rates established by the commission than the rates, fares and charges which are specified in that tariff. The commission may examine books, records and papers of all railroad and other transportation companies, except motor carriers of property; may hear and determine complaints against railroad and other transportation companies; and may issue subpoenas and all necessary process and send for persons and papers. The commission and each of the commissioners may administer oaths, take testimony and punish for contempt in the same manner and to the same extent as courts of record. The commission may prescribe a uniform system of accounts to be kept by all railroad and other transportation companies, except motor carriers of property.
(b) Subdivision (a) is not applicable to network railroad transportation.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 1005, Sec. 35. Effective January 1, 2000.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 728.7.

728.7. (a) Prior to authorizing any change in the amount of the payment required of a telephone corporation which provides service between service areas to a telephone corporation which provides service within a service area for the use of its telephone lines, and prior to assigning to subscribers of a telephone corporation operating within a service area any charge, surcharge, or rate increase that is a result of a decrease in the amount of that payment, the commission shall do all of the following:
(1) Require the telephone corporation requesting authorization to increase subscriber rates or to impose a charge or surcharge on subscribers as a result of a change in the payments, to notify its subscribers, whenever the commission commences a proceeding on its own motion or in response to a petition to authorize a change in the amount of those payments or to impose that charge, surcharge, or rate increase as a result of a change in the amount of those payments.
(2) Require the telephone corporation to provide its subscribers with an exact description of, and explanation for, the change in the amount of the payment or the imposition of a charge, surcharge, or rate increase, within 90 days of the authorized change in the amount of payment or charge, surcharge, or rate increase. The description and explanation shall include a reasonably accurate quantitative assessment of the results of, and the reasons for, the change in the amount of payment or imposition of a charge, surcharge, or rate increase for each class of subscriber.
(b) The commission shall provide the Legislature with the information required of a telephone corporation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), for any change in payments, or imposition of a charge, surcharge, or rate increase as a result of a change in payment, made prior to January 1, 1987, within 60 days after that date.
(Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 1047, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 729.

729. The commission may, upon a hearing, investigate a single rate, classification, rule, contract, or practice, or any number thereof, or the entire schedule or schedules of rates, classifications, rules, contracts, and practices, or any thereof, of any public utility, and may establish new rates, classifications, rules, contracts, or practices or schedule or schedules in lieu thereof.
(Enacted by Stats. 1951, Ch. 764.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 729.5.

729.5. A public utility, other than one-way radio paging services, shall not change a group of customers from one rate schedule to another rate schedule, if the change would result in an increase of more than 10 percent in the rate charged to the affected customers, without first notifying customers of the change. Upon the request of an affected customer, the commission may hold a hearing on the change.
(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 739, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 730.

730. (a) The commission shall, upon a hearing, determine the kind and character of facilities and the extent of the operation thereof, necessary reasonably and adequately to meet public requirements for service furnished by common carriers between any two or more points, and shall fix and determine the just, reasonable, and sufficient rates for such service. Whenever two or more common carriers are furnishing service in competition with each other, the commission may, after hearing, when necessary for the preservation of adequate service and when public interest demands, prescribe uniform rates, classifications, rules, and practices to be charged, collected, and observed by all such common carriers.
(b) Subdivision (a) is not applicable to network railroad transportation.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 1005, Sec. 36. Effective January 1, 2000.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 730.3.

730.3. The commission shall notify every state and local public agency and corporation operating a passenger transit system making a written request for such notification before approving any rate increase for the passenger transportation services of any railroad or passenger state corporation within the territory served by such public transit system.
(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1031, Sec. 3.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 730.7.

730.7. In determining reimbursement to railroad corporations for the operation of rail passenger service, the commission shall not exceed that compensation which would be payable if calculated pursuant to the standards of the Rail Services Planning Office of the Interstate Commerce Commission contained in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1127.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 732, Sec. 5. Effective September 8, 1982.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 730.8.

730.8. Whenever a state agency files with the commission an application for an increase in rates or fares or for any change in the level of service for passenger transportation by a railroad corporation and the state agency has prior to the application held a public hearing on the matter which the commission finds to be complete and adequate, the commission may determine not to hold any further hearing on the matter and in this event shall approve, modify and approve as so modified, or disapprove the application within 90 days of the date of filing with the commission.
(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 732, Sec. 6. Effective September 8, 1982.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 731.

731. (a) (1) On or before June 30, 2024, the commission, in coordination and consultation with the Department of Community Services and Development and other relevant state agencies that provide low-income electric or gas utility customer assistance programs, shall develop a process that, to the extent possible, enables customers to concurrently apply, or begin to apply, to multiple low-income customer assistance programs using data collected during the original application process, including, but not limited to, all of the following programs:
(A) The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program described in Section 739.1.
(B) The Family Electric Rate Assistance program described in Section 739.12.
(C) The Energy Savings Assistance program described in Section 2790.
(2) The process developed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be known as the concurrent application process.
(b) The commission shall work with state agencies, electrical corporations, and gas corporations to notify, to the extent possible, eligible individuals that they have been successfully enrolled or are in the process of being enrolled into other programs.
(c) The concurrent application process shall complement, rather than replace, other application processes.
(d) Before sharing data, an electrical corporation or gas corporation shall receive consent from its low-income applicants to use already-obtained application information to begin the enrollment process for other low-income electric or gas utility customer assistance programs.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 840, Sec. 2. (SB 1208) Effective January 1, 2023.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 732.

732. (a) Whenever the commission, after a hearing finds that the rates, fares, or charges in force over two or more common carriers, between any two points in this state, are unjust, unreasonable, or excessive, or that no satisfactory through route or joint rate, fare, or charge exists between such points, and that the public convenience and necessity demand the establishment of such a through route and joint rate, fare, or charge, the commission may order such common carriers to establish such through route and may establish and fix a joint rate, fare, or charge which will be fair, just, reasonable, and sufficient, to be charged and collected in the future, and the terms and conditions under which such through route shall be operated. The commission may order that freight moving between such points shall be carried by the common carriers participating in such through route and joint rate, without being transferred from the originating cars.
(b) Subdivision (a) is not applicable to network railroad transportation.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 1005, Sec. 38. Effective January 1, 2000.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 733.

733. (a) If the common carriers do not agree upon the division between them of the joint rates, fares, or charges established by the commission over through routes, the commission shall, after hearing, by supplemental order, establish that division. Where any railroad, or passenger stage corporation that is made a party to a through route has itself over its own line an equally satisfactory through route between the termini of the through route established, that railroad, or passenger stage corporation may require as its division of the joint rate, fare, or charge its local rate, fare, or charge over the portion of its line comprised in the through route, and the commission may, in its discretion, allow to that railroad or passenger stage corporation, more than its local rate, fare, or charge if the commission determines that it will be equitable so to do. The commission may establish and fix through routes and joint rates, fares, or charges over common carriers and stage or auto stage lines which may not be otherwise subject to the provisions of this part, and may fix the division of those joint rates, fares, or charges.
(b) Subdivision (a) is not applicable to network railroad transportation.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 1005, Sec. 39. Effective January 1, 2000.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 734.

734. When complaint has been made to the commission concerning a rate for a product or commodity furnished or service performed by a public utility, and the commission has found, after investigation, that the public utility has charged an unreasonable, excessive, or discriminatory amount therefor in violation of any of the provisions of this part, the commission may order that the public utility make due reparation to the complainant therefor, with interest from the date of collection if no discrimination will result from that reparation. No order for the payment of reparation upon the ground of unreasonableness shall be made by the commission when the rate in question has, by formal finding, been declared by the commission to be reasonable, and no assignment of a reparation claim shall be recognized by the commission except assignments by operation of law as in cases of death, lack of legal capacity to make decisions, bankruptcy, receivership, or order of court.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 144, Sec. 51. (AB 1847) Effective January 1, 2015.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 735.

735. If the public utility does not comply with the order for the payment of reparation within the time specified in the order, suit may be instituted in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover the payment within one year from the date of the order, and not after. All complaints for damages resulting from a violation of any of the provisions of this part, except Sections 494 and 532, shall either be filed with the commission, or where concurrent jurisdiction of the cause of action is vested by the Constitution and laws of this State in the courts, in any court of competent jurisdiction, within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after.
(Amended by Stats. 1953, Ch. 702.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 736.

736. All complaints for damages resulting from the violation of any of the provisions of Sections 494 or 532 shall either be filed with the commission, or, where concurrent jurisdiction of the cause of action is vested in the courts of this state, in any court of competent jurisdiction within three years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after. If claim for the asserted damages has been presented in writing to the public utility concerned within the period of three years, the period shall be extended to include six months from the date notice in writing is given by the public utility to the claimant of the disallowance of the claim, or of any part or parts thereof specified in the notice.
Whenever the commission institutes an investigation of unauthorized undercharge by any public utility, the institution of the investigation by the commission shall toll the three-year period specified in this section until the commission has rendered its initial decision on the matter. The commission shall render its final decision within two years of the date of the order instituting the investigation.
(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1004, Sec. 1.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 737.

737. All complaints for the collection of the lawful tariff charges or any part thereof, of public utilities may be filed in any court of competent jurisdiction within three years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after, but if a public utility presents its claim or demand in writing to the person from whom the tariff charges, or any part thereof, are alleged to be due within such period of three years, that period shall be extended to include six months from the date notice in writing is given to the public utility, by such person, or refusal to pay the demand, or any part or parts thereof specified in the notice of refusal.
If suit for the collection of the lawful tariff charges or any portion thereof of a public utility is filed in any court in accordance with the terms of this section, or if such collection is made by the public utility without filing suit, the person against whom such suit is filed or from whom such collection is made may, within 90 days from the date of service of summons in the suit, or the date of the collection, file with the commission, or with any court of competent jurisdiction, a complaint for damages resulting from the violation of any of the provisions of this part with respect to the transaction to which the suit of the public utility relates, or for which such collection has been made.
(Enacted by Stats. 1951, Ch. 764.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 738.

738. For the purpose of Sections 734 to 737, inclusive, the cause of action shall accrue upon the delivery or tender of delivery of the shipment or the performance of the service or the furnishing of the commodity or product with respect to which complaint is filed or claim made. The remedies in those sections shall be cumulative and in addition to any other remedy or remedies in this part provided in case of failure of a public utility to obey an order or decision of the commission.
(Enacted by Stats. 1951, Ch. 764.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 738.6.

738.6. In establishing rates for a public utility operating any portion of its line, plant, or system within a federally designated nonattainment area, the commission shall determine which expenses related to compliance with state and local air pollution control requirements for using clean-burning fuels in that area are reasonable and necessary and shall approve those expenses.
(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1546, Sec. 6.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 739.2.

739.2. (a) The commission’s program of assistance to low-income electric and gas customers shall also include the following facilities, provided the commission finds that the occupants of the facilities substantially meet the commission’s low-income eligibility requirements and there is a feasible process for certifying that the assistance shall be used for the direct benefit of the occupants of the facilities:
(1) Migrant farmworker housing centers provided pursuant to Section 50710 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) Employee housing, as defined in Section 17008 of the Health and Safety Code, that is licensed and inspected by state or local agencies pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 17000) of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3) Housing for agricultural employees, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1140.4 of the Labor Code, that has received an exemption from local property taxes pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 214 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(b) The assistance provided pursuant to subdivision (a) shall only apply to gas and electricity, or both, used for the housing occupied by the workers and employees specified in subdivision (a).
(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 946, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 739.3.

739.3. (a) Subject to direction and supervision by the commission, each electrical corporation and gas corporation shall develop and implement a program of rate assistance to eligible food banks at a fixed percentage to be determined by the commission. The commission may adjust the fixed percentage as appropriate. The funding source for the rate assistance program is subject to the approval of the commission.
(b) The Legislature encourages the governing board of each local publicly owned electric utility to develop and implement a program of rate assistance to eligible food banks at a fixed percentage, to be determined by the governing board, but consistent with that fixed by the commission for electrical corporations.
(c) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Eligible food bank” means a qualified eligible recipient agency that has executed an agreement with the State Department of Social Services in order to participate in The Emergency Food Assistance Program administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.
(2) “Eligible recipient agency” has the same meaning as defined in Section 251.3(d) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(3) “Agreement” means an agreement executed in compliance with Section 251.2 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 581, Sec. 1. (AB 2218) Effective January 1, 2015.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 739.6.

739.6. The commission shall establish rates using cost allocation principles that fairly and reasonably assign to different customer classes the costs of providing service to those customer classes, consistent with the policies of affordability and conservation. The cost allocation methodology adopted for gas corporations by the commission in Decisions 86-12-009 and 86-12-010, as supplemented by Decisions 87-05-046 and 87-12-039, is consistent with this policy, and shall be retained by the commission at least until December 31, 1990, except that the commission may modify this cost allocation methodology to address customer hardships and inequities if residential customers as a class are not, on balance, adversely affected and the purpose of the modification is not solely protection of gas corporation revenues. If any gas corporation files a cost allocation application seeking to change that methodology after May 1, 1990, the commission may not issue an order on that application until January 1, 1991.
(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 212, Sec. 3. Effective June 28, 1988.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 739.7.

739.7. In establishing residential rates, the commission shall retain an appropriate inverted rate structure. If the commission increases baseline rates pursuant to Section 739, revenues resulting from those increases shall be used exclusively to reduce nonbaseline residential rates.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1040, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1993.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 739.8.

739.8. (a) Access to an adequate supply of healthful water is a basic necessity of human life, and shall be made available to all residents of California at an affordable cost.
(b) The commission shall consider and may implement programs to provide rate relief for low-income ratepayers.
(c) The commission shall consider and may implement programs to assist low-income ratepayers in order to provide appropriate incentives and capabilities to achieve water conservation goals.
(d) In establishing the feasibility of rate relief and conservation incentives for low-income ratepayers, the commission may take into account variations in water needs caused by geography, climate and the ability of communities to support these programs.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 549, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1993.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 739.9.

739.9. (a) “Fixed charge” means any fixed customer charge, basic service fee, demand differentiated basic service fee, demand charge, or other charge not based on the volume of electricity consumed.
(b) Increases to electrical rates and charges in rate design proceedings, including any reduction in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) discount, shall be reasonable and subject to a reasonable phase-in schedule relative to the rates and charges in effect before January 1, 2014.
(c) Consistent with the requirements of Section 739, the commission may modify the seasonal definitions and applicable percentage of average consumption for one or more climatic zones.
(d) The commission may adopt new, or expand existing, fixed charges for the purpose of collecting a reasonable portion of the fixed costs of providing electrical service to residential customers. The commission shall ensure that any approved charges do all of the following:
(1) Reasonably reflect an appropriate portion of the different costs of serving small and large customers.
(2) Not unreasonably impair incentives for conservation, energy efficiency, and beneficial electrification and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
(3)  Are set at levels that do not overburden low-income customers.
(e) (1)  For the purposes of this section and Section 739.1, the commission may authorize fixed charges for any rate schedule applicable to a residential customer account. The fixed charge shall be established on an income-graduated basis with no fewer than three income thresholds so that a low-income ratepayer in each baseline territory would realize a lower average monthly bill without making any changes in usage. The commission shall, no later than July 1, 2024, authorize a fixed charge for default residential rates.
(2)  For purposes of this subdivision, “income-graduated” means that low-income customers pay a smaller fixed charge than high-income customers.
(f)  Notwithstanding the requirements of subdivision (d) of Section 739 and Section 739.7, the commission shall not apply the composite tier method to the treatment of any revenues resulting from any fixed charge adopted pursuant to this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 61, Sec. 10. (AB 205) Effective June 30, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 739.10.

739.10. The commission shall ensure that errors in estimates of demand elasticity or sales do not result in material over or undercollections of the electrical corporations.
(Added by Stats. 2001, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 8, Sec. 10. Effective April 12, 2001.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 739.11.

739.11. (a) For bills issued to customers of gas corporations and electrical corporations in which usage is estimated, it is the intent of the Legislature that, to the extent practicable, the methodology for estimation be simple, transparent, and cost effective to the customer, and produce reasonably accurate results.
(b) For each gas corporation and electrical corporation that, for some portion of residential customers, employs every-other-month meter reading and estimates bills for months when the customer’s meter is not read, the commission shall direct the gas corporation or electrical corporation to include in its tariffs the methodology it employs to estimate bills for those months during which the meter is not read.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 467, Sec. 2. (SB 711) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 739.12.

739.12. (a) The commission shall continue a program of assistance to residential customers of the state’s three largest electrical corporations consisting of households of three or more persons with total household annual gross income levels between 200 percent and 250 percent of the federal poverty guideline level. The program shall continue to be referred to as the Family Electric Rate Assistance or FERA program.
(b) The FERA program discount shall be an 18 percent line-item discount applied to an eligible customer’s bill calculated at the applicable rate for the billing period.
(c) The commission shall authorize the state’s three largest electrical corporations to increase or expand marketing and outreach efforts beyond those in effect as of December 31, 2018, to increase eligible customer participation in the FERA program.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 413, Sec. 2. (SB 1135) Effective January 1, 2019.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 739.13.

739.13. (a) The commission shall develop a definition of energy affordability.
(b) The definition of energy affordability shall establish energy affordability metrics based on household income and include the combined impact of electricity and gas bills.
(c) The commission shall use energy affordability metrics for both of the following purposes:
(1) To guide the development of any protections, incentives, discounts, or new programs to assist residential customers facing hardships or disconnections due to electricity or gas bills.
(2) To assess the impact of proposed rate increases on different types of residential customers.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 361, Sec. 7. (SB 1020) Effective January 1, 2023.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 740.

740. For purposes of setting the rates to be charged by every electrical corporation, gas corporation, heat corporation or telephone corporation for the services or commodities furnished by it, the commission may allow the inclusion of expenses for research and development.
(Added by Stats. 1973, Ch. 1118.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 740.1.

740.1. The commission shall consider the following guidelines in evaluating the research, development, and demonstration programs proposed by electrical and gas corporations:
(a) Projects should offer a reasonable probability of providing benefits to ratepayers.
(b) Expenditures on projects which have a low probability for success should be minimized.
(c) Projects should be consistent with the corporation’s resource plan.
(d) Projects should not unnecessarily duplicate research currently, previously, or imminently undertaken by other electrical or gas corporations or research organizations.
(e) Each project should also support one or more of the following objectives:
(1) Environmental improvement.
(2) Public and employee safety.
(3) Conservation by efficient resource use or by reducing or shifting system load.
(4) Development of new resources and processes, particularly renewable resources and processes which further supply technologies.
(5) Improve operating efficiency and reliability or otherwise reduce operating costs.
(Added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1713, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 740.2.

740.2. The commission, in consultation with the Energy Commission, State Air Resources Board, electrical corporations, and the motor vehicle industry, shall evaluate policies to develop infrastructure sufficient to overcome any barriers to the widespread deployment and use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. By July 1, 2011, the commission shall adopt rules to address all of the following:
(a) The impacts upon electrical infrastructure, including infrastructure upgrades necessary for widespread use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles and the role and development of public charging infrastructure.
(b) The impact of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles on grid stability and the integration of renewable energy resources.
(c) The technological advances that are needed to ensure the widespread use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles and what role the state should take to support the development of this technology.
(d) The existing code and permit requirements that will impact the widespread use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles and any recommended changes to existing legal impediments to the widespread use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
(e) The role the state should take to ensure that technologies employed in plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles work in a harmonious manner and across service territories.
(f) The impact of widespread use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles on achieving the state’s goals pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and renewables portfolio standard program and what steps should be taken to address possibly shifting emissions reductions responsibilities from the transportation sector to the electrical industry.
(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 355, Sec. 1. (SB 626) Effective January 1, 2010.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 740.3.

740.3. (a) The commission, in cooperation with the Energy Commission, the State Air Resources Board, air quality management districts and air pollution control districts, regulated electrical and gas corporations, and the motor vehicle industry, shall evaluate and implement policies to promote the development of equipment and infrastructure needed to facilitate the use of electricity and natural gas to fuel low-emission vehicles. Policies to be considered shall include both of the following:
(1) The sale-for-resale and the rate-basing of low-emission vehicles and supporting equipment such as batteries for electric vehicles and compressor stations for natural gas fueled vehicles.
(2) The development of statewide standards for electric vehicle charger connections and compressed natural gas vehicle fueling connections, including installation procedures and technical assistance to installers.
(b) The commission shall hold public hearings as part of its effort to evaluate and implement the new policies considered in subdivision (a).
(c) The commission’s policies authorizing utilities to develop equipment or infrastructure needed for electricity-powered and natural gas-fueled low-emission vehicles shall ensure that the costs and expenses of those programs are not passed through to electrical or gas ratepayers unless the commission finds and determines that those programs are in the ratepayers’ interest. The commission’s policies shall also ensure that utilities do not unfairly compete with nonutility enterprises.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 396, Sec. 27. (AB 1513) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 740.5.

740.5. (a) For purposes of this section, “21st Century Energy System Decision” means commission Decision 12-12-031 (December 20, 2012), Decision Granting Authority to Enter Into a Research and Development Agreement with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for 21st Century Energy Systems and for costs up to one hundred fifty-two million one hundred ninety thousand dollars ($152,190,000) or any subsequent decision in Application 11-07-008 (July 18, 2011), Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (U39M), San Diego Gas and Electric Company (U902E), and Southern California Edison Company (U338E) for Authority to Increase Electric Rates and Charges to Recover Costs of Research and Development Agreement with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for 21st Century Energy Systems.
(b) In implementing the 21st Century Energy System Decision, the commission shall not authorize recovery from ratepayers of any expense for research and development projects that are not for purposes of cyber security and grid integration. Total funding for research and development projects for purposes of cyber security and grid integration pursuant to the 21st Century Energy System Decision shall not exceed thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000). All cyber security and grid integration research and development projects shall be concluded by the fifth anniversary of their start date.
(c) The commission shall not approve for recovery from ratepayers those program management expenditures proposed, commencing with page seven, in the joint advice letter filed by the state’s three largest electrical corporations, Advice 3379-G/4215-E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company), Advice 2887-E (Southern California Edison Company), and Advice 2473-E (San Diego Gas and Electric Company), dated April 19, 2013. Project managers for the 21st Century Energy System Decision shall be limited to three representatives, one representative each from Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and San Diego Gas and Electric Company.
(d) The commission shall require the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as a condition for entering into any contract pursuant to the 21st Century Energy System Decision, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and San Diego Gas and Electric Company to ensure that research parameters reflect a new contribution to cyber security and that there not be a duplication of research being done by other private and governmental entities.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 842, Sec. 15. (SB 1222) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 740.6.

740.6. (a) The commission may authorize investor-owned gas and electric utilities to match grants provided to nonprofit agencies and local governments to participate in the Department of Economic Opportunity’s pilot program to identify and counsel low-income individuals and group facilities that are eligible to receive rate discounts and weatherization benefits offered by those utilities. The amount of utility matching funds for the pilot program shall be limited to a statewide total of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000). The commission shall require that utility expenditures for those purposes be recoverable in rates.
(b) If federal funds become available for low-income energy assistance or weatherization programs that may be secured with matching funds from states or utilities, the commission may authorize investor-owned gas and electric utilities to match those federal funds, and shall require that utility expenditures for those purposes be recoverable in rates.
(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1159, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1994.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 740.7.

740.7. Interruptible service or curtailment programs adopted by the commission shall assure that the programs allow customers to aggregate multiple accounts to meet any minimum kilowatt requirements for participation in the program, subject to geographical, load, and other parameters, as determined by the commission.
(Added by Stats. 2001, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 7, Sec. 7. Effective April 12, 2001.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 740.8.

740.8. As used in Section 740.3 or 740.12, “interests” of ratepayers, short- or long-term, mean direct benefits that are specific to ratepayers, consistent with both of the following:
(a) Safer, more reliable, or less costly gas or electrical service, consistent with Section 451, including electrical service that is safer, more reliable, or less costly due to either improved use of the electric system or improved integration of renewable energy generation.
(b) Any one of the following:
(1) Improvement in energy efficiency of travel.
(2) Reduction of health and environmental impacts from air pollution.
(3) Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions related to electricity and natural gas production and use.
(4) Increased use of alternative fuels.
(5) Creating high-quality jobs or other economic benefits, including in disadvantaged communities identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 547, Sec. 31. (SB 350) Effective January 1, 2016.)
2023 California Code › Public Utilities Code - PUC › DIVISION 1 - REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES › PART 1 - PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT › CHAPTER 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities › ARTICLE 2 - Rates › Section 740.9.

740.9. (a) Any optional binding mandatory curtailment program adopted by the commission that exempts customers from Stage 3 rotating outages in exchange for partial load curtailments during every rotating outage period shall provide, for agricultural and water supplier customers, the use of backup generation to offset the curtailed load under the program, to the extent the use of backup generation is allowed under existing law, including, but not limited to, all relevant local air pollution control district and air quality management district rules and regulations.
(b) As used in this section, “agricultural customers” means any customer involved in the production of or processing of agricultural products. “Water suppliers” means those water agencies or suppliers as defined in Section 20200 of the Water Code and Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.
(Added by Stats. 2001, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 7, Sec. 8. Effective April 12, 2001.)