AB 1082: Transportation electrification: electric vehicle charging infrastructure: school facilities and other educational institutions.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law requires the PUC, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), the State Air Resources Board (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 related issues. Existing law requires the PUC, in cooperation with the Energy Commission, the 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. Existing law, enacted as part of the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015, requires the PUC, in consultation with the Energy Commission and state board, to direct electrical corporations to file applications for programs and investments to accelerate widespread transportation electrification to reduce dependence on petroleum, meet air quality standards, achieve the goals set forth in the Charge Ahead California Initiative, and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

This bill would authorize an electrical corporation to file with the PUC, by July 30, 2018, a pilot program proposal for the installation of vehicle charging stations at school facilities and other educational institutions, giving priority to school facilities and other educational institutions located in disadvantaged communities, as defined. The bill would require the PUC to review, modify if appropriate, and decide whether to approve a pilot program proposal filed by an electrical corporation by December 31, 2018. The bill would provide that a school district, county office of education, private school, or other educational institution choosing to participate in the pilot program would have authority to establish guidelines for use of the charging stations installed pursuant to the approved pilot program, including use of these charging stations by faculty, students, and parents before, during, and after school hours at those times that the school facilities or other educational institutions are operated for purposes of providing education or school-related activities, and by others present for those activities. The bill would require that construction and maintenance of the charging stations and infrastructure be managed in coordination with the school district, county office of education, private school, or other educational institution. The bill would require that the approved pilot program include a reasonable mechanism for cost recovery by the electrical corporation if the PUC makes specified findings. The bill would require that a school facility or other educational institution receiving charging stations pursuant to the approved pilot program participate in a time-variant rate approved by the PUC and would authorize the school district, county office of education, private school, or other educational institution to require users of the charging stations to pay electricity costs.

Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the PUC is a crime.

Because the provisions of this bill are within the act and require action by the PUC to implement their requirements, a violation of which would be a crime, 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.