(a) (1) No later than July 26, 2019, the commission shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider using its authority pursuant to Section 701 to require each electrical corporation, except a regional electrical corporation that chooses not to participate in any fund pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 3291), to collect a nonbypassable charge from ratepayers of the electrical corporation to support the fund, including the payment of any bonds issued pursuant to Division 28 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Water Code, as follows:
(A) For a large electrical corporation, a charge in an amount sufficient to fund the revenue requirement, as established pursuant to Section 80524 of the Water Code.
(B) For a regional electrical corporation, the amount equal to one-half cent per kilowatt-hour ($0.005/kWh).
(2) If the commission determines that the imposition of the charge described in paragraph (1) is just and reasonable, and that it is appropriate to exercise its authority pursuant to Section 701 to do so, the commission shall direct each electrical corporation to impose and collect that charge commencing in the month immediately following the month in which the final imposition of the revenue requirement with respect to bonds previously issued pursuant to Division 27 (commencing with Section 80000) of the Water Code is made. The charge shall be collected in the same manner as that for the payments made to reimburse the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Division 27 (commencing with Section 80000) of the Water Code.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, no later than 90 days after the initiation of the rulemaking proceeding, the commission shall adopt a decision regarding the imposition of the charge.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 455.5 or 1708, or any other law, the commission shall not revise, amend, or otherwise modify a decision to impose a charge made pursuant to this section at any time before January 1, 2036.
(d) If the administrator authorizes Golden State Energy to participate in the fund pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 3292, Golden State Energy’s ratepayers shall be subject to the nonbypassable charge previously imposed by the commission pursuant to this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 27, Sec. 10. (SB 350) Effective January 1, 2021.)