Public utilities: review of accounts: electrical and gas corporations: rates: political influence activities.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Passed
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill aims to increase transparency and accountability in how electrical and gas corporations operate in California. Specifically, it prohibits these companies from recovering costs associated with opposing municipalization efforts, certain political activities, and promotional advertising from ratepayers. The bill also requires the Public Advocate’s Office of the Public Utilities Commission to have the same information-gathering authority as the commission itself, and mandates detailed reporting on expenses related to political influence activities.
Key provisions
- Prohibits electrical and gas corporations from recovering costs of opposing municipalization efforts from ratepayers.
- Prohibits recovery of costs associated with certain political influence activities, including lobbying and campaign contributions.
- Prohibits recovery of costs for promotional advertising.
- Grants the Public Advocate’s Office the same authority as the Public Utilities Commission to review accounts and discover information.
- Requires utilities to disclose funding sources for public messages.
- Mandates annual reporting on employee compensation and expenses related to political influence activities.
- Establishes civil penalties for violations of the bill's provisions.
- Clarifies that moving expenses to a below-the-line account does not protect them from disclosure.
Who is affected
- Electrical corporations
Bill text
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