Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. Existing law requires the PUC to administer, until January 1, 2016, a self-generation incentive program (SGIP) for distributed generation resources and to separately administer solar technologies pursuant to the California Solar Initiative. The PUC, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), may authorize electrical corporations to annually collect not more than the amount authorized for the SGIP in the 2008 calendar year through December 31, 2011.

This bill would extend the authority of the PUC to authorize electrical corporations to continue making the annual collections through December 31, 2014.

Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.

Because the program that is extended under the provisions of this bill are within the act and a decision or order of the commission implements the program requirements, a violation of these provisions would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the definition of a crime.

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.