Public utilities: intervenor compensation.

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities. Existing law provides compensation for reasonable advocate's fees, reasonable expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs to public utility customers for preparation for and participation in a hearing or proceeding of the commission. Existing law requires the commission to award a customer compensation if certain requirements are satisfied, including that the customer's presentation makes a substantial contribution to the adoption of the commission's order or decision. Existing law requires a customer who intends to seek compensation to file and serve on all parties to the proceeding, within 30 days after the prehearing conference is held, a notice of intent to claim compensation. This bill would instead require a customer who intends to seek compensation to file and serve on all parties to the proceeding a notice of intent to claim compensation within 30 days after the prehearing conference is held or within 30 days of becoming a party to the proceeding, whichever is later.