BILL NUMBER: AB 2141INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ting FEBRUARY 17, 2016 An act to add Section 748 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to electricity. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2141, as introduced, Ting. Energy-efficient refrigeration program: low-income communities. Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires each electrical corporation and gas corporation to develop and implement a program of rate assistance to eligible food banks at a fixed percentage to be determined by the commission and subject to direction and supervision by the commission. Existing law requires all public utilities to develop programs, in cooperation with local school districts, to reduce their electricity and gas bills through conservation and improvements in efficiency. Pursuant to existing law, the commission supervises various energy efficiency and low-income targeted energy efficiency programs administered by electrical corporations, gas corporations, and third-party administrators. This bill would require an electrical corporation to develop a program, subject to direction and supervision by the commission, that promotes the placement of free or low-cost energy-efficient refrigeration in corner grocery stores in low-income communities in order to provide convenient fresh food options in those communities. 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 provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of an order or decision of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new 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. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 748 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read: 748. Subject to direction and supervision by the commission, each electrical corporation shall develop a program that promotes the placement of free or low-cost energy-efficient refrigeration in corner grocery stores in low-income communities in order to provide convenient fresh food options in those communities. SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.