To: Board of Supervisors
From: Legislation Committee
Report Title: ADOPT a "SUPPORT" position on AB 1999 (Irwin)
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a position of "Support" on AB 1999 (Irwin), a bill that would repeal provisions of Budget Trailer Bill AB 205 (2022) and instead permit the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to authorize fixed charges on utility bills that are either $5/month for customers enrolled in rate assistance programs or $10/month for other customers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact for the County from this bill; however, there are potential fiscal impacts for County residents who are PG&E customers.
BACKGROUND:
At their March 25, 2024 meeting, the Legislation Committee (Supervisors Burgis and Carlson) considered a recommendation to support AB 1999 (Irwin) from the County's Sustainability Coordinator. As there is no existing policy in the Board's adopted 2023-24 State Legislative Platform that relates directly to this bill, the Legislation Committee took action to recommend support of AB 1999 to the Board of Supervisors.
The new fixed fee on electricity bills based on household income was created as one part of the 2022 State budget process by Assembly Bill 205, which addressed a number of energy issues. AB 205 directed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to determine new fixed charges to be assessed by the investor-owned utilities to support operation of the transmission and distribution grid for electricity.
The CPUC opened proceedings in 2023 to develop the fixed fee. The proposals from the utilities have been controversial. For PG&E customers, the monthly fixed charge proposed by the utility ranges from $15/month for customers whose annual income is less than $28,000/year to $92/month for those whose annual income is greater than $180,000/year.
Currently, low-income utility customers can opt into two state programs title...
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