AB 2396: Community choice aggregators: eligible transmission projects.

Existing law authorizes a community choice aggregator to aggregate the electrical load of interested electricity consumers within its boundaries and requires a community choice aggregator to file an implementation plan with the Public Utilities Commission, to register with the commission, and to enter into an operating service agreement with an electrical corporation. Existing law requires the Energy Unit within the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development to establish a Transmission Infrastructure Accelerator (accelerator) to develop a financing and development strategy for eligible transmission projects, as defined, to receive California Transmission Accelerator financing, and requires the accelerator to take the necessary steps to accelerate the development and deployment of those projects to maximize ratepayer savings.

This bill would authorize a community choice aggregator to sponsor, develop, finance, construct, operate, lease, purchase, and maintain electrical transmission lines, and any substations, or other works, facilities, improvements, and property necessary or convenient for the operation of those electrical transmission lines, own an eligible transmission project, regardless of whether the electrical transmission lines are used for the purpose of conveying electricity to the customers of the community choice aggregator.

Under existing law, a violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.

Because a violation of a commission action implementing the provisions of this bill would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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.