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SB-83 Public utilities: electrical distribution grid: energization.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 05/03/2023 09:00 PM
SB83:v96#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  May 03, 2023
Amended  IN  Senate  March 30, 2023
Amended  IN  Senate  March 09, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 83

Introduced by Senator Wiener
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Wood)

January 13, 2023

An act to add Chapter 8.3 (commencing with Section 2845) to Part 2 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 83, as amended, Wiener. Public utilities: electrical distribution grid: interconnection. energization.
Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish an expedited distribution grid interconnection dispute resolution process with the goal of resolving disputes over interconnection applications within the jurisdiction of the commission in no more than 60 days from the time the dispute is formally brought to the commission.
This bill would require the commission, on or before September 30, 2024, to establish maximum energization time periods by when an electrical corporation would be required to energize a development project, including the maximum time period for the energization ready phase of a project. The bill would require an electrical corporation to interconnect energize a development project with the electrical corporation’s electrical distribution grid within 8 weeks of the maximum energization time period established by the commission, after receiving a notification from a development project applicant that the development project is interconnection energization ready, as defined. The bill would specify that this 8-week period the maximum energization time period established by the commission does not apply if an issue specific to the development project or the project site arises that would prevent the electrical corporation from safely completing the interconnection energization within the 8-week that time period and would require the electrical corporation to work with the development project applicant to establish an alternative time period. The bill would require each electrical corporation to annually report to the commission the number of applications for interconnection energization with the electrical corporation’s distribution grid and the time period in which the electrical corporation interconnects energizes the development project with its electrical distribution grid after the electrical corporation was notified that the development project was interconnection energization ready. The bill would require an electrical corporation to compensate a development project applicant for failing to meet the 8-week time period maximum energization time period described above or the alternative time period, as specified. The bill would require the commission to arbitrate any dispute related to the claim for compensation.
Under existing law, a violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because a violation of an order or decision of the commission implementing the above-described requirement would be a crime, this 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.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Chapter 8.3 (commencing with Section 2845) is added to Part 2 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, to read:
CHAPTER  8.3. Electrical Distribution Grid
Article  1. General Provisions

2845.
 For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Development project” means a project for the construction of a new structure or the modification of an existing structure.

(b)“Interconnect” means to physically connect a development project to the electrical distribution grid of an electrical corporation, including providing all work necessary to make the interconnection effective.

(c)“Interconnection

(b) “Energization ready” means the phase in a development project in which all critical dependencies, including all necessary inspections, certifications, and permits needed for an interconnection, energization, have been completed and the project site is accessible to an electrical corporation’s construction resources.
(c) “Energize” means to physically connect a development project to the electrical distribution grid of an electrical corporation, including providing all work necessary to make the energization effective.

2.Interconnection
2846.

(a)Within eight weeks of

Article  2. Energization

2846.
 (a) (1) On or before September 30, 2024, the commission shall establish the maximum energization time periods by when an electrical corporation shall energize a development project, including the maximum time period for the energization ready phase of the project.
(2) In establishing the time periods specified in paragraph (1), the commission shall solicit input from interested parties.
(b) Within the maximum energization time period established by the commission, after receiving a notification from a development project applicant that the development project is interconnection energization ready, an electrical corporation shall interconnect energize the development project with the electrical corporation’s electrical distribution grid.

(b)

(c) If, after a development project is interconnection energization ready, an issue specific to the project or project site arises that would prevent the electrical corporation from safely completing the interconnection energization as required by subdivision (a), (b), the electrical corporation is exempt from the requirements of subdivision (a) (b) and shall work with the development project applicant to establish an alternative time period.

Article  3. Reporting and Enforcement

2847.
 Each electrical corporation shall annually report to the commission the number of applications for interconnection energization with the electrical corporation’s electrical distribution grid received in the previous 12 months and the time period in which the electrical corporation interconnects energizes the development project with the electrical distribution grid after receiving the notification specified in Section 2846.

2847.5.
 An electrical corporation shall compensate a development project applicant for failing to meet the requirement of subdivision (a) (b) of Section 2846 or the alternative time period agreed to under subdivision (b) (c) of Section 2846 at a rate of as determined by the commission not to exceed twenty-five cents ($0.25) per square foot of the area covered by the development project per day of delay if the development project applicant files a claim for compensation with the electrical corporation. Compensation paid pursuant to this section shall not be recovered from ratepayers. The electrical corporation may dispute the claim for compensation with the commission and the commission shall arbitrate the dispute.

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.