Bill Text: CA SB1142 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Electrical and gas corporations: termination of services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-07-03 - Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. [SB1142 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB1142-Amended.html
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Amended
IN
Assembly
July 03, 2024 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
April 29, 2024 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
March 18, 2024 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1142
| Introduced by Senator Menjivar |
February 14, 2024 |
An act to add Sections 779.6 and 779.7 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1142, as amended, Menjivar.
Electrical and gas corporations: termination of services.
Existing law prohibits an electrical or gas corporation from terminating residential service for nonpayment of a delinquent account unless the corporation first gives notice of the delinquency and impending termination, as provided. Existing law requires the notice to include information on procedures by which the affected residential customer may initiate a complaint, request an investigation concerning the service or charges, and request amortization of the unpaid charges. Existing law requires that a residential customer who initiated a complaint, requested an investigation, or requested an extension of the payment period be given an opportunity for review of the complaint, investigation, or request by a review manager of the corporation. Existing law requires the review to include a consideration of whether the customer is to be permitted to amortize the unpaid balance of the
delinquent account over a reasonable time period, not to exceed 12 months.
This bill would require an electrical or gas corporation to restore service to a residential customer whose service was previously terminated for nonpayment of delinquent amounts upon the customer entering into an amortization agreement to the extent authorized by commission rules. The bill would require the reconnection to occur within 24 hours of the payment as authorized pursuant to commission rules. occur, as specified.
This bill would require the commission, on or before July 1, 2025, to determine whether to direct electrical and gas corporations to take into account a customer’s ability to pay before terminating or reconnecting services, as provided.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because a violation of the provisions of this bill or a commission action implementing the requirements of the bill would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 779.6 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:779.6.
(a) An electrical or gas corporation shall restore service to a residential customer whose service was previously terminated for nonpayment of delinquent amounts upon the customer entering into an amortization agreement described in subdivision (c) of Section 779 to the extent authorized by commission rules.(b) The reconnection shall occur within as follows:
(1) Within 24 hours of the payment as for remote reconnections.
(2) Within one business day for field reconnections, except in situations relating to safety or extreme weather.
(3) As otherwise authorized pursuant to commission rules.
SEC. 2.
Section 779.7 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:779.7.
(a) On or before July 1, 2025, the commission shall, in a new or existing proceeding, determine whether to direct electrical and gas corporations to take into account a customer’s ability to pay in any of the following circumstances:(1) Before terminating service due to nonpayment.
(2) Before terminating service for a customer on an amortization agreement.
(3) In reconnecting service for a residential customer whose service was previously terminated for nonpayment.
(b) In
determining whether to direct electrical corporations to consider a customer’s ability to pay before terminating service, the commission shall consider whether to limit the amount an electrical corporation can collect up to 20 percent of the customer’s outstanding balance, as specified for the termination and reconnection of gas service in commission Decision D.20-06-003 (June 16, 2020) Phase I Decision Adopting Rules and Policy Changes to Reduce Residential Customer Disconnections for the Larger California-Jurisdictional Energy Utilities.
(c) The commission shall consider impacts to participating and nonparticipating customers to inform the determinations made pursuant to subdivision (a).
