Electrical infrastructure: plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations, as defined. Existing law requires the PUC, in cooperation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) , the State Air Resources Board (state board) , air quality management districts and air pollution control districts, electrical and gas corporations, and the motor vehicle industry, to evaluate and implement policies to promote the development of equipment and infrastructure needed to facilitate the use of electric power and natural gas to fuel low-emission vehicles. The PUC is required to ensure that the costs and expenses of any authorized programs are not passed through to electric or gas ratepayers unless the commission finds and determines that those programs are in the ratepayers' interest. Existing law requires the PUC to provide a progress report to the Legislature on its efforts to evaluate and implement the policies for the above-described purposes by January 30, 1993, and every 2 years thereafter. This bill would require the PUC, in consultation with the Energy Commission, the state board, electrical corporations, and the motor vehicle industry, to evaluate policies to develop infrastructure sufficient to overcome any barriers to the widespread deployment and use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles and, by July 1, 2011, to adopt rules that address specified matter. 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 are within the act and require action by the commission to implement its requirements, a violation of these provisions 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.