CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 254Introduced by Senator BeckerFebruary 03, 2025 An act to amend Section 381 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to electricity. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 254, as introduced, Becker. Electrical corporations: nonbypassable charge.Existing law requires each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component that is required to be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to allocate these funds for certain programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the latter requirement.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 381 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:381. (a) To ensure that the funding for the programs described in subdivision (b) and Section 382 are not commingled with other revenues, the commission shall require each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component to collect the revenues used to fund these programs. The rate component shall be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service.(b) (1) The commission shall allocate funds collected pursuant to subdivision (a), and any interest earned on collected funds, to programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits as follows:(1)(A) Cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities.(2)(B) Public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets.(3)(C) In-state operation and development of existing and new and emerging eligible renewable energy resources, as defined in Section 399.12.(c)(2) The commission shall order the respective electrical corporations to collect and spend these funds at the levels and for the purposes required in Section 399.8.(d)(3) Each electrical corporation shall allow customers to make voluntary contributions through their utility bill payments as either a fixed amount or a variable amount to support programs established pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). (1). Funds collected by electrical corporations for these purposes shall be forwarded in a timely manner to the appropriate fund as specified by the commission.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 254Introduced by Senator BeckerFebruary 03, 2025 An act to amend Section 381 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to electricity. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 254, as introduced, Becker. Electrical corporations: nonbypassable charge.Existing law requires each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component that is required to be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to allocate these funds for certain programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the latter requirement.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 254
Introduced by Senator BeckerFebruary 03, 2025
Introduced by Senator Becker
February 03, 2025
An act to amend Section 381 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to electricity.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 254, as introduced, Becker. Electrical corporations: nonbypassable charge.
Existing law requires each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component that is required to be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to allocate these funds for certain programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the latter requirement.
Existing law requires each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component that is required to be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to allocate these funds for certain programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the latter requirement.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 381 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:381. (a) To ensure that the funding for the programs described in subdivision (b) and Section 382 are not commingled with other revenues, the commission shall require each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component to collect the revenues used to fund these programs. The rate component shall be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service.(b) (1) The commission shall allocate funds collected pursuant to subdivision (a), and any interest earned on collected funds, to programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits as follows:(1)(A) Cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities.(2)(B) Public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets.(3)(C) In-state operation and development of existing and new and emerging eligible renewable energy resources, as defined in Section 399.12.(c)(2) The commission shall order the respective electrical corporations to collect and spend these funds at the levels and for the purposes required in Section 399.8.(d)(3) Each electrical corporation shall allow customers to make voluntary contributions through their utility bill payments as either a fixed amount or a variable amount to support programs established pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). (1). Funds collected by electrical corporations for these purposes shall be forwarded in a timely manner to the appropriate fund as specified by the commission.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 381 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:381. (a) To ensure that the funding for the programs described in subdivision (b) and Section 382 are not commingled with other revenues, the commission shall require each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component to collect the revenues used to fund these programs. The rate component shall be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service.(b) (1) The commission shall allocate funds collected pursuant to subdivision (a), and any interest earned on collected funds, to programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits as follows:(1)(A) Cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities.(2)(B) Public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets.(3)(C) In-state operation and development of existing and new and emerging eligible renewable energy resources, as defined in Section 399.12.(c)(2) The commission shall order the respective electrical corporations to collect and spend these funds at the levels and for the purposes required in Section 399.8.(d)(3) Each electrical corporation shall allow customers to make voluntary contributions through their utility bill payments as either a fixed amount or a variable amount to support programs established pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). (1). Funds collected by electrical corporations for these purposes shall be forwarded in a timely manner to the appropriate fund as specified by the commission.
SECTION 1. Section 381 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.
381. (a) To ensure that the funding for the programs described in subdivision (b) and Section 382 are not commingled with other revenues, the commission shall require each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component to collect the revenues used to fund these programs. The rate component shall be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service.(b) (1) The commission shall allocate funds collected pursuant to subdivision (a), and any interest earned on collected funds, to programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits as follows:(1)(A) Cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities.(2)(B) Public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets.(3)(C) In-state operation and development of existing and new and emerging eligible renewable energy resources, as defined in Section 399.12.(c)(2) The commission shall order the respective electrical corporations to collect and spend these funds at the levels and for the purposes required in Section 399.8.(d)(3) Each electrical corporation shall allow customers to make voluntary contributions through their utility bill payments as either a fixed amount or a variable amount to support programs established pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). (1). Funds collected by electrical corporations for these purposes shall be forwarded in a timely manner to the appropriate fund as specified by the commission.
381. (a) To ensure that the funding for the programs described in subdivision (b) and Section 382 are not commingled with other revenues, the commission shall require each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component to collect the revenues used to fund these programs. The rate component shall be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service.(b) (1) The commission shall allocate funds collected pursuant to subdivision (a), and any interest earned on collected funds, to programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits as follows:(1)(A) Cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities.(2)(B) Public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets.(3)(C) In-state operation and development of existing and new and emerging eligible renewable energy resources, as defined in Section 399.12.(c)(2) The commission shall order the respective electrical corporations to collect and spend these funds at the levels and for the purposes required in Section 399.8.(d)(3) Each electrical corporation shall allow customers to make voluntary contributions through their utility bill payments as either a fixed amount or a variable amount to support programs established pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). (1). Funds collected by electrical corporations for these purposes shall be forwarded in a timely manner to the appropriate fund as specified by the commission.
381. (a) To ensure that the funding for the programs described in subdivision (b) and Section 382 are not commingled with other revenues, the commission shall require each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component to collect the revenues used to fund these programs. The rate component shall be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service.(b) (1) The commission shall allocate funds collected pursuant to subdivision (a), and any interest earned on collected funds, to programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits as follows:(1)(A) Cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities.(2)(B) Public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets.(3)(C) In-state operation and development of existing and new and emerging eligible renewable energy resources, as defined in Section 399.12.(c)(2) The commission shall order the respective electrical corporations to collect and spend these funds at the levels and for the purposes required in Section 399.8.(d)(3) Each electrical corporation shall allow customers to make voluntary contributions through their utility bill payments as either a fixed amount or a variable amount to support programs established pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). (1). Funds collected by electrical corporations for these purposes shall be forwarded in a timely manner to the appropriate fund as specified by the commission.
381. (a) To ensure that the funding for the programs described in subdivision (b) and Section 382 are not commingled with other revenues, the commission shall require each electrical corporation to identify a separate rate component to collect the revenues used to fund these programs. The rate component shall be a nonbypassable element of the local distribution service.
(b) (1) The commission shall allocate funds collected pursuant to subdivision (a), and any interest earned on collected funds, to programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits as follows:
(1)
(A) Cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities.
(2)
(B) Public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets.
(3)
(C) In-state operation and development of existing and new and emerging eligible renewable energy resources, as defined in Section 399.12.
(c)
(2) The commission shall order the respective electrical corporations to collect and spend these funds at the levels and for the purposes required in Section 399.8.
(d)
(3) Each electrical corporation shall allow customers to make voluntary contributions through their utility bill payments as either a fixed amount or a variable amount to support programs established pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). (1). Funds collected by electrical corporations for these purposes shall be forwarded in a timely manner to the appropriate fund as specified by the commission.