BILL NUMBER: AB 1890	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY  Assembly Member Conroy

                        FEBRUARY 24, 1995

   An act to amend Section 453 of, and to add Section 10009.4 to, the
Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1890, as introduced, Conroy.  Public utilities:  bills for
services.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission is vested with
regulatory authority over public utilities.
   This bill would permit each gas, electrical, heat, and water
corporation, and each publicly owned utility furnishing light, heat,
water and power, to identify, as a separate amount, on any bill for
services or commodities furnished any customer or subscriber, the
amount to be paid by the customer or subscriber that represents the
costs of complying with a federal, state, or local governmental
mandate, not including any fees imposed by the commission.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  no.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to unbundle the cost
of electricity and to identify the costs incurred by utilities.  It
is the further intent of the Legislature to encourage all energy
utilities to identify the amounts charged to customers due to
government mandates.
  SEC. 2. Section 453 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   453.  (a) No public utility shall, as to rates, charges, service,
facilities, or in any other respect, make or grant any preference or
advantage to any corporation or person or subject any corporation or
person to any prejudice or disadvantage.
   (b) No public utility shall prejudice, disadvantage, or require
different rates or deposit amounts from a person because of race,
religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical handicap,
medical condition, occupation, sex, marital status or change in
marital status.  A person who has exhausted all administrative
remedies with the commission may institute a suit for injunctive
relief and reasonable attorney's fees in cases of an alleged
violation of this subdivision.  If successful in litigation, the
prevailing party shall be awarded attorney's fees.
   (c) No public utility shall establish or maintain any unreasonable
difference as to rates, charges, service, facilities, or in any
other respect, either as between localities or as between classes of
service.
   (d) No public utility shall include with any bill for services or
commodities furnished any customer or subscriber any advertising or
literature designed or intended (1) to promote the passage or defeat
of a measure appearing on the ballot at any election whether local,
statewide, or national, (2) to promote or defeat any candidate for
nomination or election to any public office, (3) to promote or defeat
the appointment of any person to any administrative or executive
position in federal, state or local government, or (4) to promote or
defeat any change in federal, state, or local legislation or
regulations.
   (e)  Each gas, electrical, heat, and water corporation may
identify, as a separate amount, on any bill for services or
commodities furnished any customer or subscriber, the amount to be
paid by the customer or subscriber that represents the costs of
complying with a federal, state, or local governmental mandate, not
including any fees imposed by the commission.
   (f)  The commission may determine any question of fact
arising under this section.
  SEC. 3. Section 10009.4 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   10009.4. Each public utility furnishing light, heat, water, and
power may identify, as a separate amount, on any bill for services or
commodities furnished any customer or subscriber, the amount to be
paid by the customer or subscriber which represents the costs of
complying with a federal, state or local governmental mandate.