California Public Utilities Code

§ 890

PUC § 890 Effective Jan 1, 2001Div. 1 · Part 1 · Ch. 4 · Art. 10

Statute text

(a)On and after January 1, 2001, there shall be imposed a surcharge on all natural gas consumed in this state. The commission shall establish a surcharge to fund low-income assistance programs required by Sections 739.1, 739.2, and 2790 and cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities and public interest research and development authorized by Section 740 and not adequately provided by the competitive and regulated markets. Upon implementation of this article, funding for those programs shall be removed from the rates of gas utilities.

(b)(1) Except as specified in Section 898, a public utility gas corporation, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 891, shall collect the surcharge imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) from any person consuming natural gas in this state who receives gas service from the public utility gas corporation.

(2)A public utility gas corporation is relieved from liability to collect the surcharge insofar as the base upon which the surcharge is imposed is represented by accounts which have been found to be worthless and charged off in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. If the public utility gas corporation has previously paid the amount of the surcharge it may, under regulations prescribed by the State Board of Equalization, take as a deduction on its return the amount found to be worthless and charged off. If any accounts are thereafter collected in whole or in part, the surcharge so collected shall be paid with the first return filed after that collection. The commission may by regulation promulgate other rules with respect to uncollected or worthless accounts as it determines to be necessary to the fair and efficient administration of this part.

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Legislative history

Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 932, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.