Existing law authorizes the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires a public utility to furnish and maintain such adequate, efficient, just, and reasonable service, instrumentalities, equipment, and facilities as are necessary to promote the safety, health, comfort, and convenience of its patrons, employees, and the public. Existing law requires the CPUC to enforce rules governing the extension of service by electrical corporations.
This bill would:
- Additionally require public utilities to furnish and maintain timely service, instrumentalities, equipment, and facilities;
- Require the CPUC, on or before January 1, 2025, to determine the criteria for timely service for electric customers that meets specified requirements. Until the CPUC determines that criteria, the bill would require each large electrical corporation, among other things, to make a good faith effort to deliver electric service within 90 days of issuing a written commitment to serve for customers seeking a new connection, and within 30 days of issuing a written commitment to serve for customers seeking upgrades to an existing connection.
- Require, if a large electrical corporation fails to deliver service to a customer by the date communicated on a written commitment to serve, the impacted customer to be entitled to a utility bill credit.
Committee Location: (updated 9/6/23) APPROVED in all Assembly and Senate policy committees; in the Senate Floor process.
