BILL NUMBER: AB 340INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bradford FEBRUARY 13, 2013 An act to add Section 383 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 340, as introduced, Bradford. Public utilities: Electric Program Investment Charge: disposition. Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. The Reliable Electric Service Investments Act required the PUC to require the state's 3 largest electrical corporations, until January 1, 2012, to identify a separate electrical rate component, commonly referred to as the public goods charge, to collect specified amounts to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, and research, development, and demonstration programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits. An existing decision of the PUC institutes an Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) to fund renewable energy and research, development, and demonstration programs. This bill would require the PUC to require all grants, contracts, subsidies, financing, and activities administered through the EPIC to comply with General Order 156 of the PUC. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 383 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read: 383. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the Public Utilities Commission adopted the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) pursuant to Decisions 11-12-035 (Phase 1 Decision Establishing Interim Research, Development And Demonstration, And Renewables Programs Funding Levels) and 12-05-037 (Phase 2 Decision Establishing Purposes and Governance for EPIC and Establishing Funding Collections for 2013-2020). (b) To promote greater competition among suppliers of research, development, and demonstration programs and to expand the available base and encourage greater economic opportunity for women, minorities, and disabled veteran owned businesses historically left out of research, development, and demonstration programs, the commission shall require all grants, contracts, subsidies, financing, and activities administered through the EPIC established by Decisions 11-12-035 and 12-05-037, and related and subsequent decisions, to comply with General Order 156 of the commission. (c) Not later than 2014, the commission shall include a status report on its compliance with this section in its annual report to the Legislature. (d) Nothing in this section provides the commission with any authority to order the collection of the moneys consistent with Decision 11-12-035, Decision 12-05-037, or to increase the amount collected through the EPIC.