SACRAMENTO–Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Monterey Bay) has introduced legislation that would improve public access to information provided by public utilities that is used to set rates. Assembly Bill 1601 would help ensure that California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) decisions are more transparent.
“The public has the right to information that affects what they are asked to pay for utilities. They have a right to know how rates are set,” said Stone. “People may also want to know how the Commission ensures that public utility service is safe.”
The Commission sets rates and rules about service quality based largely on information provided by the utilities. Much of that information is designated by the utilities as confidential, and under current law, it cannot be released to the public unless the Commission specifically orders it to be made available. This bill would make it easier for members of the public to obtain access to the information provided to the Commission by utilities in rate-setting proceedings. That information would be open to public inspection unless federal or state law protects it from disclosure. Under AB 1601, a public utility would have an opportunity to tell the Commission when there is a legitimate reason to keep specific information confidential. The Commission would have 45 days to issue an order on such a request.
The Commission regulates privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies; it sets the rates of all of these public utilities.
