citation: PUC § 7673

text:
Each railroad corporation which transports hazardous materials in the state shall do all of the following:

(a) Provide a system map of the state to the Office of Emergency Services and to the Public Utilities Commission, showing practical groupings of mileposts on the system and showing mileposts of stations, terminals, junction points, road crossings, and the locations of natural gas and liquid pipelines in railroad rights-of-way.

(b) Annually submit to the Office of Emergency Services a copy of a publication which identifies emergency handling guidelines for the surface transportation of hazardous materials, except that if the railroad corporation is classified as a class I carrier by the Interstate Commerce Commission pursuant to Subpart A of Part 1201 of Subchapter C of Chapter X of the Code of Federal Regulations, the railroad corporation shall annually submit to the Office of Emergency Services 50 copies of this publication which the agency shall make available to the Public Utilities Commission and local administering agencies and to other response agencies. These guidelines shall not be considered comprehensive instructions for the handling of any specific incident.

(c) If there is a train incident resulting in a release or an overturned railcar or an impact which threatens a release of a hazardous material, provide the emergency response agency with all of the following information:

(1) A list of each car in the train and the order of the cars.

(2) The contents of each car, if loaded, in the train.

(3) Identification of the cars and contents in the train which are involved in the incident, including, but not limited to, those cars which have derailed.

(4) Emergency handling procedures for each hazardous material transported in or on the involved cars of the train.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 505. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)


kind: section

code: PUC

citation: PUC § 7676

text:
Every person who, in making up or running any railroad train, places or runs, or causes to be placed or run, any freight car in the rear of passenger cars, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and if loss of life or limb results from such placing or running, is guilty of a felony. This section shall not apply where railroad trains are carrying only personnel and equipment in connection with military or naval movements. “Freight car,” as used in this section, does not include a baggage, express, or mail car.

This section shall become operative on January 1, 1976.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1973, Ch. 246, Sec. 2.)

chapter: 1. Railroad Corporations

article: 8. Crimes

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 1. Railroad Corporations > 8. Crimes


citation: PUC § 7677

text: No person, firm, or corporation operating a railroad with more than four trains each way every 24 hours shall require or permit any engineer, fireman, conductor, brakeman, or trainman to receive, deliver, or transmit at any receiving or forwarding instrument of any telegraph or telephone line, any order for the movement of any train, except in such cases or classes of cases as are permitted by the commission. This section does not apply to interurban or street railroads. Any person, firm, or corporation violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1951, Ch. 764.)

division: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES

article: 8. Crimes


text: Radio or other means of communication not hereinabove referred to in Section 7677 may be used for the purpose of transmitting orders for the movement of trains, subject to such rules or regulations as the commission may promulgate for insuring the safety of railroad operations.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1847.)

article: 8. Crimes


citation: PUC § 7678

text: Except as provided in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 7604, every person in charge of a locomotive engine who, before crossing any traveled public way, omits to cause a bell to ring or steam whistle, air siren, or air whistle to sound at the distance of at least 1,320 feet from the crossing, and until the lead locomotive has passed through the crossing, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 263, Sec. 3. Effective August 30, 2000.)

article: 8. Crimes


citation: PUC § 7679

text: Any person employed upon any railroad as engineer, conductor, baggage-master, brakeman, switchman, fireman, bridge-tender, flagman, or signalman, or having charge of the regulation or running of trains upon any railroad, in any manner whatever, who either becomes or is intoxicated or who is impaired due to the unlawful use of a controlled substance while engaged in the discharge of his duties, is guilty of a misdemeanor. If any person so employed does any act or neglects any duty, by reason of such intoxication or illegal drug use, which act or neglect causes the death of, or bodily injury to, any person or persons, that person so employed is guilty of a felony.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 631, Sec. 1.)

article: 8. Crimes


citation: PUC § 7680

text: Every conductor, engineer, brakeman, switchman, or other person having charge, wholly or in part, of any railroad, car, locomotive, or train, who willfully or negligently suffers or causes it to collide with another car, locomotive, or train, or with any other object or thing whereby the death of a human being is produced, is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for two, three or four years.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 561. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)

article: 8. Crimes


citation: PUC § 7681

text: Every engineer, conductor, brakeman, switch-tender, or other officer, agent, or servant of any railroad company, who is guilty of any wilful violation or omission of his duty as such officer, agent, or servant, whereby human life or safety is endangered, the punishment of which is not otherwise prescribed, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

article: 8. Crimes


citation: PUC § 7700

text: By Section 803 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976, designated in this chapter as the “act,” Congress has established a local rail service continuation assistance program. Such program is designed to cover: the cost of rail service continuation payments; the cost of purchasing a line of railroad or other rail properties to maintain existing or provide for future rail service; the cost of rehabilitating and improving rail properties on a line of railroad to the extent necessary to permit adequate and efficient rail freight service on such line; and the cost of reducing the costs of lost rail service in a manner less expensive than continuing rail service. The Legislature hereby determines that such program should be implemented in California and that such implementation would constitute a public purpose.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 819.)

article: 9. Rail Service Assistance

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 1. Railroad Corporations > 9. Rail Service Assistance


citation: PUC § 7701

text: The Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the commission and other affected state and local agencies, shall be responsible for the preparation and periodic update of the state rail plan required by the act.

article: 9. Rail Service Assistance


citation: PUC § 7702

text: The Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the commission and other affected state and local agencies, shall perform the duties required by the act in developing, promoting, supervising, and supporting safe, adequate, and efficient rail transportation services; maintaining adequate programs of investigation, research, promotion, and development, with provisions for public participation; and shall take all practicable steps to improve transportation safety and to reduce transportation-related energy utilization and pollution. It is not the intent of this section to diminish in any respect the authority and responsibility of the commission. The department shall work in close cooperation with the commission in carrying out the duties imposed upon it under this chapter.

article: 9. Rail Service Assistance


citation: PUC § 7703

text: The Department of Transportation shall administer a program of projects for rail service assistance financed in whole or in part with funds derived pursuant to the act. All necessary matching funds shall be expressly appropriated by the Legislature or donated by public or private entities.

article: 9. Rail Service Assistance


citation: PUC § 7704

text: To the maximum extent permitted by federal law, rules, and regulations, the Department of Transportation shall recover the costs of administering this chapter from the federal funds received pursuant to the act.

article: 9. Rail Service Assistance


citation: PUC § 7705

text: The Governor, the Secretary of the Business and Transportation Agency, and the Department of Transportation may enter into such agreements, execute such documents, establish and manage such accounts and deposits, act as a recipient, and take any other action that may be appropriate to carry out the rail assistance programs authorized by the act.

article: 9. Rail Service Assistance


citation: PUC § 7710

text:
For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Commission” shall mean the Public Utilities Commission.

(b) “Fund” means the Rail Accident Prevention and Response Fund created pursuant to Section 7713.

(c) “Prevention account” means the Hazardous Spill Prevention Account created, pursuant to Section 7714, in the Railroad Accident Prevention and Response Fund.

(d) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 618, Sec. 288. (AB 2791) Effective January 1, 2011.)

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 1. Railroad Corporations > 10. Railroad Safety and Emergency Planning and Response


text: The commission shall collect and analyze near-miss data generated from incidents occurring at railroad crossings and along the rail right-of-way. For purposes of this section, “near-miss” includes a runaway train or any other uncontrolled train movement that threatens public health and safety reported to the commission pursuant to Section 7661.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 885, Sec. 6. Effective September 30, 2006.)

article: 10. Railroad Safety and Emergency Planning and Response


citation: PUC § 7712

text:
On or before January 1, 1993, the commission shall adopt regulations, based on its findings and not inconsistent with federal law. The commission may amend or revise the regulations as necessary thereafter, to reduce the potential railroad hazards identified in Section 916.2. In adopting the regulations, the commission shall consider at least all of the following:

(a) Establishing special railroad equipment standards for trains operated on railroad sites identified as posing a local safety hazard pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 916.2. These standards may include, but need not be limited to, standards for all of the following:

(1) Sizes, numbers, and configurations of locomotives.

(2) Brakes.

(b) Establishing special train operating standards for trains operated over railroad sites identified as posing a local safety hazard pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 916.2. These standards may include, but need not be limited to, standards for all of the following:

(1) Length, weight, and weight distribution of trains.

(2) Speeds and accelerations of trains.

(3) Hours of allowable travel.

(c) Establishing special training, personnel, and performance standards for operators of trains that travel on railroad sites identified as posing a local safety hazard pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 916.2.

(d) Establishing special inspection and reporting standards for trains operated on railroad sites identified as posing a local safety hazard pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 916.2.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 612, Sec. 68. (SB 697) Effective January 1, 2016.)


citation: PUC § 7713

text:
(a) The Rail Accident Prevention and Response Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury, and the money in the fund is available for appropriation by the Legislature. The secretary shall administer the fund and the prevention account in accordance with this article, and shall develop and adopt regulations and guidelines necessary to carry out and enforce this article.

(b) The State Board of Equalization shall implement the collection of the fee imposed pursuant to Section 7714.5 in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to Section 7713.

(c) The adoption of regulations pursuant to this section shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as an emergency necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, emergency regulations adopted by the secretary and the State Board of Equalization pursuant to this section shall be filed with, but not repealed by, the Office of Administrative Law, and shall remain in effect until revised or repealed by the secretary.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 766, Sec. 7.)


citation: PUC § 7714

text:
(a) The Hazardous Spill Prevention Account in the Railroad Accident Prevention and Response Fund is hereby created. The moneys deposited in the prevention account shall be subject to annual appropriation in the Budget Act or other appropriation by the Legislature. The amount deposited in the prevention account and available for appropriation shall not exceed three million dollars ($3,000,000) in any calendar year.

(b) The moneys in the prevention account may be expended by the secretary for any of the following purposes:

(1) Creation, support, and maintenance of the Railroad Accident Prevention and Immediate Deployment Force created by subdivision (a) of Section 7718.

(2) Creation, support, maintenance, and implementation of the state railroad accident prevention and immediate deployment plan developed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 7718.

(3) Creation, support, and maintenance of programs, data registries, equipment, and facilities to respond to, and contain, toxic releases resulting from surface transportation accidents. Expenditures pursuant to this paragraph may be for the purpose of any of the following:

(A) Acquisition and maintenance of specialized equipment and supplies.

(B) Support of specialized facilities.

(C) Creation and support of a state-level and local toxic emergency response teams to provide immediate onsite response capability in the event of large scale releases of toxic substances resulting from surface transportation accidents.

(4) Support for specialized training for state and local emergency response officials in techniques for prevention of, and response to, toxic releases resulting from surface transportation accidents.

(5) Support for research, data collection, and studies into technologies and techniques for prevention of, response to, and mitigation of, toxic releases resulting from surface transportation accidents.

(6) To provide economic assistance to persons, entities, and communities that suffer direct or indirect economic damages from a surface transportation accident.


text:
(a) In accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to Section 7713, the secretary shall establish a fee schedule, which shall be paid by each surface transporter of hazardous materials in California in an amount sufficient to fund the appropriation from the prevention account and to maintain a prudent reserve of two months’ operating costs, less amounts transferred from the response account pursuant to subdivision (d).

(b) The secretary shall, to the extent practicable, identify programs, equipment, and facilities applicable to specific surface transportation modes, and shall establish fees for each surface transportation mode to cover the costs of the programs, equipment, and facilities applicable to that specific surface transportation mode. Fees to cover the costs of programs, equipment, and facilities applicable to all or several surface transportation modes shall be paid in equal shares by surface transportation modes.

(c) The secretary may authorize payment of fees through contributions in kind of equipment, materials, or services.

(d) For the purposes of the fees authorized by this section, “surface transportation mode” shall not include pipelines subject to the fee assessed pursuant to Section 51019 of the Government Code or any natural gas pipeline.

(e) This section shall become inoperative on December 31, 1995.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 766, Sec. 7. Inoperative December 31, 1995, by its own provisions.)


citation: PUC § 7718

text:
(a) The Railroad Accident Prevention and Immediate Deployment Force is hereby created in the California Environmental Protection Agency. The force shall be responsible for providing immediate onsite response capability in the event of large-scale releases of toxic materials resulting from surface transportation accidents and for implementing the state hazardous materials incident prevention and immediate deployment plan. This force shall act cooperatively and in concert with existing local emergency response units. The force shall consist of representatives of all of the following:

(1) Department of Fish and Game.

(2) California Environmental Protection Agency.

(3) State Air Resources Board.

(4) California Integrated Waste Management Board.

(5) California regional water quality control boards.

(6) Department of Toxic Substances Control.

(7) Department of Pesticide Regulation.

(8) Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

(9) State Department of Public Health.

(10) Department of the California Highway Patrol.

(11) Department of Food and Agriculture.

(12) Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

(13) Department of Parks and Recreation.

(14) Public Utilities Commission.

(15) Any other potentially affected state, local, or federal agency.

(16) Office of Emergency Services.

(b) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall develop a state railroad accident prevention and immediate deployment plan in cooperation with the State Fire Marshal, affected businesses, and all of the entities listed in paragraphs (1) to (17), inclusive, of subdivision (a).

(c) The plan specified in subdivision (b) shall be a comprehensive set of policies and directions that every potentially affected state agency and business shall follow if there is a railroad accident to minimize the potential damage to the public health and safety, property, and the environment that might result from accidents involving railroad activities in the state.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 506. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)


citation: PUC § 7720

text:
(a) (1) When an appropriate prosecuting agency determines that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any acts or practices which constitute, or which shall constitute, a violation of any provision of this chapter or of any rule, regulation, permit, covenant, standard, requirement, or order issued, promulgated, or executed pursuant to this chapter, the city attorney or district attorney of the jurisdiction in which these acts or practices have occurred, are occurring, or shall occur, or the Attorney General, may make application to the superior court or to the commission for an order enjoining these acts or practices or an order directing compliance with this chapter.

(2) A temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, or other order may be issued under this subdivision upon a showing that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in, the acts or practices set forth in paragraph (1).

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any civil action brought pursuant to this chapter in which a temporary restraining order, or preliminary or permanent injunction is sought, it shall not be necessary for the moving party to allege or prove either of the factors set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) at any stage of the proceeding. The temporary restraining order or preliminary or permanent injunction may issue without allegations or proof of either of the following factors:

(1) That irreparable damage shall occur should the relief sought not be granted.

(2) That the remedy at law is inadequate.


citation: PUC § 7721

text: Every civil action commenced pursuant to this article for civil or criminal penalties authorized by this article shall be brought by the city attorney, the district attorney, or the Attorney General in the name of the people of the State of California, and any actions relating to the same event, transaction, or occurrence may be joined or consolidated, or may be coordinated pursuant to Section 404 of the Code of Civil Procedure or Division II (commencing with Rule 1501) of Title Four of the California Rules of Court.


citation: PUC § 7722

text: Any civil action brought in the superior court pursuant to this article shall be brought in the county in which the spill, discharge, or violation occurred, the county in which the principal place of business of the defendant is located, or the county in which the defendant is doing business in this state.


citation: PUC § 7723

text: The civil and criminal penalties provided in this article are separate and in addition to, and do not supersede or limit, any other civil or criminal remedy.


citation: PUC § 7724

text:
(a) Any person who commits any of the following acts, shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16, 24, or 36 months:

(1) Except as provided by Section 7724.1, knowingly fails to follow the direction or order of the secretary or the commission arising from a rail accident or release of a hazardous or potentially hazardous commodity from a railcar.

(2) Knowingly causes, or aids or abets in, the discharge or spill of, a hazardous or potentially hazardous commodity from a railcar, unless the discharge is authorized by the United States, the state, or another agency with appropriate jurisdiction.

(3) Knowingly fails to comply with the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 7712, and that failure results in a rail accident or release of hazardous material or creates a significant risk of accident or release of hazardous material.

(b) The court shall also impose upon a person convicted of violating subdivision (a), a fine not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for each violation. For purposes of this subdivision, each day or partial day that a violation occurs is a separate violation.

(c) The court shall also impose upon a person convicted of violating paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), a fine equal to twice the cost of abating, repairing, and responding to the cost associated with the illegal discharge of a hazardous or potentially hazardous commodity from a railcar as a result of a rail accident.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 562. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)


text:
(a) If a person reasonably, and in good faith, believes that the directions or orders given by the secretary or the commission would substantially endanger the public safety or the environment, the person may refuse to act in compliance with the orders or directions of the secretary or the commission. The person shall state, at the time of the refusal, the reasons why the person refuses to follow the orders or directions of the secretary or the commission. The person shall give the secretary or the commission written notice of the reasons for the refusal within 48 hours of refusing to follow the orders or directions of the secretary or the commission.

(b) In any civil or criminal proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 7724, the burden of proof shall be on the responsible party or potentially responsible party to demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, why the refusal to follow the orders or directions of the secretary or the commission was justified under the circumstances.


text:
(a) Any person who commits any of the acts set forth in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for each violation of a separate provision or, for a continuing violation, for each day that violation occurs:

(1) Negligent failure to follow the direction or order of the secretary in connection with a rail accident or the release of a hazardous commodity from a railcar.

(2) Knowingly engaging in, or causing the discharge or spill of a hazardous commodity from a railcar or highway carrier, unless that discharge is authorized by the United States, by the state, or by another governmental agency with appropriate jurisdiction.

(3) Negligent failure to comply with any regulation adopted pursuant to Section 7712.

(b) Any person who commits any of the acts set forth in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation of a separate provision or, for a continuing violation, for each day that violation occurs:

(1) Failure to follow the direction or order of the secretary in connection with a rail accident or the release of a hazardous commodity from a railcar.

(2) Engaging in, or causing the discharge or spill of a hazardous commodity from a railcar or highway carrier, unless that discharge is authorized by the United States, by the state, or by another governmental agency with appropriate jurisdiction.

(3) Failure to comply with any regulation adopted pursuant to Section 7712.


citation: PUC § 7725

text: Twenty-five percent of penalties and fines collected pursuant to any action brought under Sections 7724 and 7724.5 shall be paid to the governmental agency or office which prosecutes the action. The remainder of the penalties and fines collected pursuant to this article shall be deposited into the fund.


citation: PUC § 7726

text:
(a) When the secretary or the commission determines that any person has engaged in, is engaged in, or threatens to engage in, any practice or act which constitutes a violation of this article, or any regulation or order issued, adopted, or executed pursuant to this article, the secretary or commission may issue an order requiring that person to cease and desist.

(b) Any cease and desist order issued by the secretary or commission may be subject to such terms and conditions as the secretary or commission may determine are necessary to ensure compliance with this article.

(c) Any cease and desist order issued by the secretary or commission shall become null and void 90 days after issuance.

(d) A cease and desist order issued by the secretary or commission shall be effective upon the issuance thereof, and copies shall be served immediately by certified mail upon the person or governmental agency being charged with the actual or threatened violation.

(e) The commission may authorize its executive director to exercise the commission’s authority to issue cease and desist orders pursuant to this section.


citation: PUC § 7727

text: Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this chapter shall not be construed to make a reference to the California Environmental Protection Agency for the purposes of compliance with Provision 2 of Item 3400-002-044 of Section 2. 00 of the Budget Act of 1991.


citation: PUC § 7801

text: Street railroads are governed by Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 7501), so far as it is applicable, unless street railroads are therein specially excepted.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 144, Sec. 172.)

chapter: 2. Street Railroads

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 2. Street Railroads


citation: PUC § 7802

text: When a street railroad is constructed, owned, or operated by any natural person, this chapter is applicable to such person in like manner as it is applicable to corporations.


citation: PUC § 7803

text: Any street railroad or any street railway corporation may sell, lease, convey, exchange, transfer, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property and assets, including franchises, under authority of a resolution of its board of directors and with the approval of the principal terms of the transaction and the nature and the amount of the consideration by a vote or written consent of shareholders entitled to exercise a majority of the voting power of the corporation when the sale, lease, conveyance, exchange or transfer of its properties is made to a municipal corporation or any other political subdivision within the State.


citation: PUC § 7804

text: Authority to lay railroad tracks through the streets and public highways of any city or city and county may be obtained for a term of years not exceeding 50, from the governing body of the city or city and county, under such restrictions and limitations, and upon such terms and payment of license tax, as the governing body may provide. Permission shall not be granted to propel cars upon such tracks otherwise than by electricity or by wire ropes running under the streets and moved by stationary engines except as provided in Section 7813. The governing body in granting the right, or at any time after the right is granted, may impose such terms, restrictions, and limitations as to the use of streets and the construction and mode of operating the road as it deems to be for the public safety or welfare.


citation: PUC § 7805

text:
The city governing body, in granting the right of way to a street railroad corporation, in addition to the restrictions which they are authorized to impose, shall require a strict compliance with the following conditions, except in the cases of prismoidal or other elevated railways:

(a) The railway shall be constructed in such manner as will present the least obstruction to the freedom of the streets on which it is erected.

(b) The tracks shall not be more than five feet wide within the rails, and shall have a space between them sufficient to allow the cars to pass each other freely.


citation: PUC § 7806

text: The legislative body of any city or city and county may permit two or more lines of street railway to use the same portion of the same street or the same tracks upon such terms as are agreed upon by the companies operating the railways, but no permission shall be granted to one company to use the same tracks or portions of the same street for more than five consecutive blocks, without the consent of the person or company occupying that portion of the street and then only upon payment of an equal portion of the cost of construction of the tracks and appurtenances used by the railways jointly.


citation: PUC § 7807

text: Where the portion of the street is occupied by a track or tracks of a different gauge from the track or tracks proposed to be constructed thereon by a line of street railway under a different management, the latter street railway may nevertheless construct its track or tracks, subject to the provisions of Section 7806, over the same ground as is occupied by the prior track or tracks, if they can be so constructed as not to interfere with the operation of the prior track or tracks beyond such necessary interference therewith as is incident to such construction with reasonable skill, care, and diligence.


citation: PUC § 7808

text: Any city or city and county may own and operate street railways within or without its corporate limits and may occupy the same street or tracks occupied or used by any street railway within its limits for any number of blocks, upon payment to the owner thereof of an equal portion of the estimated cost of construction, at the time of such occupation, of such tracks or appurtenances as the city or city and county elects to use jointly with the street railway.


citation: PUC § 7809

text: Any proposed railroad track may be permitted to cross any track already constructed, the crossing being made as provided in Chapter 1 of this division. In laying down the track and preparing therefor, not more than one block shall be obstructed at any one time, nor for a longer period than 10 working days.


citation: PUC § 7810

text: Street railway cars shall be of the most approved construction for the comfort and convenience of passengers, and provided with brakes to stop them, when required. A violation of this section subjects the corporation to a fine of two hundred dollars ($200) for each offense.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1092, Sec. 360. Effective September 27, 1983. Operative January 1, 1984, by Sec. 427 of Ch. 1092.)


citation: PUC § 7811

text: Cities in or through which street railroads run may make such further regulations for the government of the street railroads as may be necessary to a full enjoyment of the franchise and the enforcement of the conditions provided herein.


citation: PUC § 7812

text: In every grant to construct street railroads, the right to grade, sewer, pave, macadamize, or otherwise improve, alter, or repair the streets or highways, is reserved to the city and cannot be alienated or impaired. The work shall be done so as to obstruct the railroad as little as possible, and if required, the street railway corporation shall shift its rails so as to avoid the obstructions made thereby.


citation: PUC § 7813

text: The right to lay down a track for grading purposes and to maintain it for a period not to exceed three years may be granted by the governing body of any city, city and county, or county, but no such track shall remain more than three years upon any one street. The track shall be laid level with the street, and shall be operated under such restrictions as not to interfere with the use of the street by the public. The governing body may grant the right to use steam or any other motive power in propelling the cars used on the grading track, when public convenience or utility demands it, but the reasons therefor shall be set forth in the ordinance, and the right to rescind the ordinance at any time reserved.


citation: PUC § 7814

text: Any corporation, or agent or employee thereof, demanding or charging a greater sum of money for fare on the cars of a street railroad than that fixed by law forfeits to the person from whom the sum is received, or who is thus overcharged, the sum of two hundred dollars ($200), to be recovered in a civil action against the corporation.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 149, Sec. 78. Effective January 1, 2004.)


citation: PUC § 7815

text: Every street railroad corporation shall provide, and on request furnish to all persons desiring a passage on its cars, any required quantity of passenger tickets or checks, each to be good for one ride. Any corporation failing to provide and furnish tickets or checks to any person desiring to purchase them at the prescribed rate shall forfeit to such person the sum of two hundred dollars ($200), to be recovered as provided in Section 7814. The provisions of this section shall not apply to such street railroad corporations as charge but five cents ($0.05) fare.


citation: PUC § 7816

text: Upon the trial of an action for any of the sums forfeited, as provided in Sections 7814 or 7815, proof that the person demanding or receiving the money as fare, or for the sale of the ticket or check, was at the time of making the demand or receiving the money, engaged in an office of the corporation, or vehicle belonging to the corporation, shall be prima facie evidence that such person was the agent, servant, or employee of the corporation, to receive the money, and give the ticket or check mentioned.


citation: PUC § 7817

text: Any street railroad corporation operating cars on the streets of cities or on the county roads within the State for the conveyance of passengers, propelled by means of wire ropes attached to stationary engines, or by electricity or compressed air, who runs, operates, or uses any car or dummy, unless each car and dummy, while in use, is fitted with a brake capable of bringing the car to a stop within a reasonable distance, and a suitable fender, or appliance placed in front or attached to the trucks of the dummy, or car, for the purpose of removing and clearing obstructions from the track, and preventing any obstacles, obstructions, or person on the track from getting under the dummy or car, and removing the same out of danger, and out of the way of the dummy or car, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Where the commission prescribes the fender or brake to be used, a compliance therewith constitutes a full compliance with this section.


citation: PUC § 7818

text: Any person operating or driving a street car who becomes or is intoxicated while so engaged in operating or driving such street car is guilty of a misdemeanor.


citation: PUC § 7901

text: Telegraph or telephone corporations may construct lines of telegraph or telephone lines along and upon any public road or highway, along or across any of the waters or lands within this State, and may erect poles, posts, piers, or abutments for supporting the insulators, wires, and other necessary fixtures of their lines, in such manner and at such points as not to incommode the public use of the road or highway or interrupt the navigation of the waters.

chapter: 3. Telegraph or Telephone Corporations

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 3. Telegraph or Telephone Corporations


text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature, consistent with Section 7901, that municipalities shall have the right to exercise reasonable control as to the time, place, and manner in which roads, highways, and waterways are accessed.

(b) The control, to be reasonable, shall, at a minimum, be applied to all entities in an equivalent manner.

(c) Nothing in this section shall add to or subtract from any existing authority with respect to the imposition of fees by municipalities.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 968, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1996.)


citation: PUC § 7903

text: Every agent, operator, or employee of any telegraph or telephone office, who in any way uses or appropriates any information derived by him from any private message passing through his hands, and addressed to any other person, or in any other manner acquired by him by reason of his trust as such agent, operator, or employee, or trades or speculates upon any such information so obtained, or in any manner turns, or attempts to turn, the information so obtained to his own account, profit, or advantage, is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 563. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)


citation: PUC § 7904

text: Every agent, operator, or employee of any telegraph or telephone office, who wilfully refuses or neglects to send any message received at such office for transmission, or wilfully postpones the transmission of the message out of its order, or wilfully refuses or neglects to deliver any message received by telegraph or telephone, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any message to be received, transmitted or delivered, unless the charges thereon have been paid or tendered, nor to require the sending, receiving, or delivery of any message counseling, aiding, abetting, or encouraging treason against the Government of the United States or of this State, or other resistance to the lawful authority, or any message calculated to further any fraudulent plan or purpose, or to instigate or encourage the perpetration of any unlawful act, or to facilitate the escape of any criminal or person accused of crime.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1951, Ch. 764.)


citation: PUC § 7905

text: The Public Utilities Commission shall issue regulations requiring every telephone corporation subject to its jurisdiction to maintain complete records of all instances in which its employees discover any device installed for the purpose of overhearing communications over the lines of such corporation and all instances in which such employees reasonably believe and report to the corporation their belief that such device is installed or has been installed but has since been removed.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1899.)


citation: PUC § 7906

text: The Public Utilities Commission shall regularly make inquiry of every telephone corporation under its jurisdiction to determine whether or not such corporation is taking adequate steps to insure the privacy of communications over such corporation’s telephone communication system.


citation: PUC § 7910

text:
(a) Telephone corporations, holders of a state franchise pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 5800), and a video provider, as defined in Section 53088.1 of the Government Code, shall perform background checks of applicants for employment, according to usual business practices.

(b) A background check equivalent to that performed by the contracting telephone corporation, a holder of a state franchise pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 5800), and a video provider, as defined in Section 53088.1 of the Government Code, shall also be conducted on all of the following:

(1) Persons hired by a contracting entity under a personal services contract.

(2) Independent contractors and their employees.

(3) Vendors and their employees.

(c) Independent contractors and vendors shall certify that they have obtained the background checks required pursuant to subdivision (b), and shall make the background checks available to the contracting entity upon request.

(d) Except as otherwise provided by contract, the telephone corporation, a holder of a state franchise pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 5800), and a video provider, as defined in Section 53088.1 of the Government Code, shall not be responsible for administering the background checks and shall not assume the cost of the background checks of individuals who are not applicants for employment of the contracting entity.

(e) (1) An individual shall not, on behalf of a telephone corporation, holder of a state franchise pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 5800), or video provider, as defined in Section 53088.1 of the Government Code, enter upon the premises of any individual unless he or she has had the background check required by subdivisions (a) and (b).

(2) Subdivision (a) applies to applicants for employment for positions that would allow the applicant to have direct contact with or access to the company’s network or central office and would require the applicant to perform activities that involve the installation, service, or repair of the company’s network or equipment.

(3) Subdivision (b) applies to any person that has direct contact with or access to the company’s network or central office and performs activities that involve the installation, service, or repair of the company’s network or equipment.

(f) This section does not apply to temporary workers performing emergency functions to restore the network of a telephone corporation to its normal state in the event of a natural disaster or an emergency that threatens or results in the loss of service.

(g) The provisions of this section apply only to applicants for employment who apply for employment on and after January 1, 2009, and to contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2009.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 195, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.)


citation: PUC § 7912

text:
A public utility employing more than 750 total employees shall annually report to the commission all of the following:

(a) The number of customers served in California by the public utility.

(b) The percentage of the public utility’s total domestic customer base that resides in California.

(c) The number of California residents employed by the public utility, calculated on a full-time or full-time equivalent basis.

(d) The percentage of the public utility’s total domestic workforce, calculated on a full-time or full-time equivalent basis, that resides in California.

(e) The capital investment in the public utility’s tangible and intangible plant which ordinarily have a service life of more than one year, including plant used by the company or others in providing public utility services, in California during the yearly reporting period.

(f) The number of California residents employed by independent contractors and consultants hired by the public utility, calculated on a full-time or full-time equivalent basis, when the public utility has obtained this information upon requesting it from the independent contractor or consultant, and the public utility is not contractually prohibited from disclosing the information to the public. This subdivision is inapplicable to contractors and consultants that are a public utility subject to the reporting requirements of this section. This paragraph applies only to those employees of an independent contractor or consultant that are personally providing services to the public utility, and does not apply to employees of an independent contractor or consultant not personally performing services for the public utility.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 612, Sec. 69. (SB 697) Effective January 1, 2016.)


citation: PUC § 7930

text:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The explosive demand for new area codes in California requires more area codes to be established than was envisioned when this chapter and Section 2887 were enacted in 1990.

(b) Because of the advent of competition in the local telecommunications market, and a decision by the Federal Communications Commission, new area codes are established by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator in conjunction with the commission and members of the telecommunications industry.

(c) In order to eliminate potential confusion for all the parties involved in the process of establishing new area codes, the changes to this chapter enacted in the 1997–98 Regular Session include identifying “providers” in Section 7931.

(d) The “providers” specified in Section 7931 include telephone corporations and resellers that are regulated by the commission, and paging companies that are not regulated by the commission. It is necessary to include all of these entities within the term “providers” in order to effectively meet the needs of the state as they relate to the establishment of new area codes. The Legislature does not, however, by including paging companies as “providers” in Section 7931, intend to expand the jurisdiction of the commission over paging companies beyond the requirements of this chapter. The Legislature continues to recognize the status of paging companies as unregulated entities.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 534, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1999.)

chapter: 3.5. New Area Codes

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 3.5. New Area Codes


citation: PUC § 7931

text:
(a) This chapter is applicable to telephone corporations, including resellers, and to paging companies, hereafter referred to as providers.

(b) For purposes of this chapter, “coordinator” means the “coordinator for California area code relief” as designated by the North American Numbering Council.

(c) Whenever the coordinator and providers evaluate the potential boundaries of a new area code, they shall consider rate area boundaries, municipal boundaries, communities of interest, and other appropriate criteria.

(d) When the coordinator determines the need to establish a new area code, at least 30 months prior to the projected opening of the new area code, the coordinator shall provide written notice to the commission regarding the need to establish the new area code.

(e) From the date the written notice required by subdivision (d) is received by the commission all of the following shall be done:

(1) Within three months all providers shall notify all affected customers in writing of the need to establish a new area code. Nothing in this paragraph requires a customer to receive in one bill more than one notice for each billed number.

(2) Within nine months the coordinator and the commission staff shall notify representatives of local jurisdictions and the public in affected geographic areas, and, at the discretion of the commission, may conduct one or more meetings both for representatives of local jurisdictions and for members of the public in affected geographic areas to inform them of the proposed area code relief options and of measures that may be taken to mitigate any potential disruptions, and to afford them the opportunity to discuss the potential impact of the proposed options.

(3) Within 11 months the coordinator shall file the results of the area code relief planning process with the commission requesting commission approval to implement a plan. Anyone may contest the results of the area code planning process by filing a written protest with the commission not later than 60 days after the results have been filed with the commission.

(f) Unless the commission determines otherwise, at least 12 months prior to the date adopted by the commission for opening the new area code, all of the following shall be done:

(1) The coordinator shall notify the general public of the specific geographic area to be included in both the old and new area codes. The notice shall include the schedule for any transitional dialing periods required by Section 7932.

(2) Each telephone provider serving the specific geographic area included in the existing area code shall give written notice to all its affected customers about the specific geographic area that will be included in the new area code. The notice shall include the schedule for any transitional dialing periods required by Section 7932, and the prefixes that will be contained in the new area code. Nothing in this paragraph requires a customer to receive in one bill more than one notice for each billed telephone number.

(g) Within three months prior to the adopted date for opening the new area code, each provider serving the existing area code shall give written notice to its affected customers of the specific geographic boundaries of the new area code. The notice shall include the schedule for any transitional periods required by Section 7932, and the prefixes that will be contained in the new area code. Nothing in this paragraph requires a customer to receive in one bill more than one notice for each billed number.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 425, Sec. 13. (SB 385) Effective January 1, 2018.)


citation: PUC § 7932

text:
(a) Whenever a provider opens a new area code, it shall do all of the following:

(1) If the new area code plan permits seven-digit dialing, provide for a transitional dialing period during which a number in the new area code, or a number in the existing area code, may be reached by dialing either the seven-digit called number, or the area code plus the seven-digit called number.

(2) Subsequent to the transitional dialing period provided in paragraph (1), if prefix codes are available, permit callers to reach a recorded announcement, without charge, that will inform the caller of the new area code when the existing area code is dialed.

(3) If the new area code plan requires 10-digit dialing within an area code, provide for any transitional dialing period or recorded announcements the commission may order.

(b) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) shall no longer be operative if an authorized federal or state agency orders mandatory 10-digit dialing.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 7931 by Stats. 1998, Ch. 534, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1999.)


citation: PUC § 7933

text: The rate structure of any call originating in or made to an area code shall not change with the split of an area code into two or more area codes, regardless of the number of digits dialed.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 7932 by Stats. 1998, Ch. 534, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1999.)


citation: PUC § 7934

text:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The number of area codes in this state has more than doubled since 1991.

(b) The proliferation of area codes has caused undue hardship on citizens of this state, who have begun to be forced into new area codes after years of having the same telephone number.

(c) That proliferation has substantially increased costs to businesses, individuals, and government agencies.

(d) New area codes require the replacement of business cards and letterhead stationery, and companies must use employee time contacting their customers to ensure that those customers are able to continue to reach the affected company.

(e) The proliferation of area codes has also reduced worker productivity as employees begin using new and unfamiliar area codes.

(f) It is the policy of the Legislature that existing area codes should be preserved for as long as possible.

(g) It is the further policy of the Legislature that the hardship currently experienced by telecommunications customers as a result of the creation of new area codes should be alleviated.

(h) For all of the reasons stated above, it is necessary for the commission, as a public agency, to take all possible measures to protect area codes as a public resource, stop area code proliferation, and review their existing practice of establishing new area code regions and the creation of area code overlays.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 809, Sec. 2. Effective October 10, 1999.)


citation: PUC § 7935

text:
(a) The commission shall develop and implement any measures it determines to be available for telephone corporations that possess prefixes to efficiently allocate telephone numbers within those prefixes. The commission shall consider the cost effectiveness of these measures before requiring implementation. Among the measures the commission shall consider are rate center consolidation, allocation of numbers in blocks smaller than 10,000, and unassigned number porting.

(b) For the purpose of this section, in accordance with the North American Numbering Plan, a telephone number consists of a three digit area code or number plan area (NPA), a three digit prefix or NXX code, and a four digit line number.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 809, Sec. 3. Effective October 10, 1999.)


citation: PUC § 7936

text: The commission shall direct the North American Numbering Plan Administrator to obtain utilization data for any area code for which a relief plan is proposed, prior to adopting a plan for, or setting a date for, relief.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 809, Sec. 4. Effective October 10, 1999.)


citation: PUC § 7938

text: The commission shall require, as an interim measure until the commission develops procedures for number pooling or adopts utilization standards, that number assignments made by telephone corporations to their customers shall be made first from prefixes that are more than 25 percent in use. A telephone corporation may assign numbers from prefixes with less than 25 percent use only to the extent necessary, if numbers from prefixes that are more than 25 percent in use are not otherwise available.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 809, Sec. 6. Effective October 10, 1999.)


citation: PUC § 7939

text:
(a) If the commission or an authorized federal agency establishes a process to ensure that telephone numbers can be allocated in blocks smaller than 10,000, the commission shall require that a telephone corporation return to the North American Numbering Plan Administrator blocks of telephone numbers for reassignment, in a quantity determined by the commission.

(b) The commission shall direct the North American Numbering Plan Administrator to seek the return of blocks of numbers smaller than 10,000 not in use. The commission, for purposes of this section, shall define “not in use.”

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 809, Sec. 7. Effective October 10, 1999.)


citation: PUC § 7940

text: A telephone corporation doing business in this state that possesses one or more telephone number prefixes, or portions thereof, shall provide to the commission or its agent, upon request, use information pertaining to both those prefixes in use and those prefixes not in use, according to any schedule established by the commission.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 809, Sec. 8. Effective October 10, 1999.)


citation: PUC § 7943

text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that when the commission has no reasonable alternative other than to create a new area code, that the commission do so in a way that creates the least inconvenience for customers.

(b) The commission shall request that the Federal Communications Commission grant authority for the commission to order telephone corporations to assign telephone numbers dedicated to mobile telephony service and mobile data service, as defined in Section 224.4, to a separate area code and to permit seven digit dialing within that technology-specific area code and the underlying preexisting area code or codes.

(c) Before approving any new area code, the commission shall first perform a telephone utilization study and implement all reasonable telephone number conservation measures.

(d) If the commission receives the grant of authority set forth in subdivision (b) and determines that further area code relief is needed, the commission shall exercise the authority granted to it in subdivision (b) unless it finds at least one of the following:

(1) Exercising the authority granted by subdivision (b) would be more disruptive to the customers where area code relief has been determined to be necessary.

(2) Exercising the authority granted by subdivision (b) will not adequately extend the life of the area code where relief has been determined to be necessary.

(e) The commission may not implement any authority granted by the Federal Communications Commission pursuant to subdivision (b), in a manner that impairs the ability of a customer to have number portability.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 198, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 2007.)


citation: PUC § 7951

text: Any person who wilfully and maliciously does any injury to telegraph or telephone or electric power or gas property is liable to the corporation for three times the amount of actual damages sustained thereby, to be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

chapter: 4. Injury to Public Utility Property

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 4. Injury to Public Utility Property


citation: PUC § 7952

text:
Any person who injures or destroys, through want of proper care, any necessary or useful facility or equipment of any telegraph, telephone, electrical, or gas corporation, is liable to the corporation for all damages sustained thereby. The measure of damages to the facility or equipment injured or destroyed shall be the cost to repair or replace the property injured or destroyed including direct and allocated costs for labor, materials, supervision, supplies, tools, taxes, transportation, administrative and general expense and other indirect or overhead expenses, less credit, if any, for salvage, as determined by such telegraph, telephone, electrical or gas corporations in conformity with a system of accounts established by the commission. The specifying of the measure of damages for the facility or equipment shall not preclude the recovery of such other damages occasioned thereby as may be authorized by law.

Any vessel which, by dragging its anchor, or otherwise, breaks, injures or destroys any underwater cable of a telegraph, telephone or electrical corporation or pipeline of a gas corporation, subjects its owner to liability for the damages sustained thereby.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1969, Ch. 709.)


citation: PUC § 7953

text: No telegraph, telephone, electrical or gas corporation can recover damages for the breaking, injury or destruction of any underwater cable or gas pipeline, unless the corporation has previously placed a marker on the bank of the waters under which the cable or pipeline is placed, indicating the place where the cable or pipeline lies.


citation: PUC § 8001

text: Unless the particular provisions or the context otherwise requires, the definitions and general provisions contained in this article shall govern the construction of this chapter.

chapter: 5. Electrical Line Construction

article: 1. Definitions

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 5. Electrical Line Construction > 1. Definitions


citation: PUC § 8002

text: “Person” includes any commission, officer, agent, or employee of this State, or of any county, city, city and county, or other political subdivision thereof, and any other person, firm, or corporation.

article: 1. Definitions


citation: PUC § 8003

text: “Signal wires or cables” include telephone, telegraph, and other signal wires.

article: 1. Definitions


citation: PUC § 8026

text:
No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, on any pole, or any crossarm, bracket, or other appliance attached to such pole, within a distance of 13 inches from the center line of the pole.

This section does not apply to signal wires or cables which are attached to a pole to which is attached no wire or cable other than signal wires or cables, except within the corporate limits of a city, nor shall this section apply to such wires or cables where they are placed vertically on poles, nor to bridle or jumper wires on any pole which are attached to signal wires on the same pole, nor to any aerial cable, as between such cable and any pole on which it originates or terminates.

Telephone toll lines may be exempt from the provisions of this section if proper evidence introduced before the commission proves to the satisfaction of the commission, that compliance would seriously interfere with long distance telephone transmission.

This section does not apply to wires run from lead wires to arc or incandescent lamps nor to transformers placed upon poles, nor to any wire or cable where it is attached to the top of a pole, as between it and the pole, nor to any aerial cable containing signal wires where the cable is attached to a pole on which no other wires or cables than wires continuing from the cable are maintained if electric light or power wires or cables are not maintained on the same side of the street or highway on which the aerial cable is placed.

article: 2. Surface Transmission

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 5. Electrical Line Construction > 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8027

text:
No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain in the vicinity of any pole (and unattached thereto) within the distance of 13 inches from the center line of the pole, any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, or place, erect or maintain any pole (to which is attached any wire or cable used to conduct electricity) within the distance of 13 inches (measured from the center of such pole) from any wire or cable used to conduct or carry electricity. As between any wire or cable and any pole, only the wire, cable, or pole last in point of time run, placed, or erected, shall be held to be run, placed, erected, or maintained in violation of the provisions of this section.

This section does not apply to signal wires, or cables on poles to which are attached no other wires, as between such wires and poles to which are attached no other wires or cables than signal wires if such wires, cables, and poles are not within the corporate limits of a city.

Telephone toll lines may be exempt from this section if proper evidence introduced before the commission proves to the satisfaction of the commission, that compliance would seriously interfere with long distance telephone transmission.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8028

text:
No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain, above ground, within four feet from any wire or cable conducting less than 600 volts of electricity, any wire or cable which conducts at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity, or run, place, erect, or maintain within four feet from any wire or cable which conducts at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity any wire or cable conducting or carrying less than 600 volts of electricity.

This section does not apply to wires or cables attached to a transformer, arc or incandescent lamp within four feet (measured along the line of the wire or cable) from the point where such wire or cable is attached to such transformer, arc or incandescent lamp, nor to wires or cables within buildings or other structures, nor to wires or cables where they are placed vertically on poles, or to any lead wires or cables between the points where they are made to leave any pole for the purpose of entering any building or other structure and the point at which they are made to enter such building or structure.

As between any two wires or cables, or any wire or any cable, run, placed, erected, or maintained in violation of this section, only the wire or cable last in point of time run, placed, or erected shall be held to be run, placed, erected, or maintained thus in violation of this section.

Where no more than one crossarm is maintained on a pole, all the wires or cables conducting at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity shall be placed on the crossarm on one side of the pole, and all the wires or cables conducting less than 600 volts of electricity shall be placed on the crossarm on the other side of the pole. The space between any wire or cable conducting at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity and any wire or cable conducting less than that voltage shall be at least 36 inches clear measurement in a horizontal line.

Where the provisions of this section cannot be complied with, the commission may grant permission for the following form of construction; where two or more systems for the distribution of electric light or power occupy the same poles with wires or cables, all wires or cables conducting at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity may be placed on the crossarms on one side of the pole, and all wires or cables conducting less than that voltage, shall in such case, be placed on the crossarms on the other side of the pole; the space between any wire or cable conducting at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity and any wire or cable conducting or carrying less than that voltage shall be at least 36 inches in measurement in a horizontal line; and in such construction all crossarms shall be at least 36 inches apart in a vertical line.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8029

text: No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any wire or cable which conducts at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity, without causing each crossarm, or such other appliance as is used in lieu thereof, to which such wire or cable is attached to be kept at all times painted a bright yellow color, or, on such crossarm, or other appliance used in lieu thereof, shall be placed signs, providing, in white letters on a green background, not less than three (3) inches in height the words “high voltage” on the face and back of each crossarm. The provisions of this section do not apply to crossarms to which are attached wires or cables conducting more than 10,000 volts of electricity, and which are situated outside the corporate limits of a city.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


text: No person shall place, erect, or maintain on any pole any transformer, capacitor, or other electrical device containing polychlorinated biphenyls for transforming electric current, when the pole or transformer is required to be marked pursuant to applicable regulations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, unless the person owning or controlling the pole on which the device is situated, upon request of any fire protection agency within the person’s electrical service area, either marks the pole with a reflective band specified by the fire protection agency or furnishes to the fire protection agency the location of every pole within the fire protection agency on which such a device is located, at the person’s option.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 549, Sec. 1.)

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8030

text:
No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any guy wire or guy cable attached to any pole or appliance to which is attached any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, without causing the guy wire or guy cable to be effectively insulated at all times at a distance of not less than four (4) feet nor more than eight (8) feet (measured along the line of the wire or cable) from the upper end thereof, and at a point not less than eight (8) feet vertically above the ground from the lower end thereof. Where two or more guy wires or guy cables are attached to the same pole and same anchorage pole there shall be at least one foot, vertical space, between the points of attachment. No insulation shall be required at the lower end of a guy wire or guy cable where it is attached to a grounded anchor. Where guy wires or guy cables are attached to a pole or structure of steel or other conducting material supporting wires or cables conducting in excess of 15,000 volts where the pole or structure is thoroughly grounded no insulation shall be required at any point in the guy wire or guy cable.

This section does not apply to guy wires or guy cables attached to poles carrying no wire or cable other than signal wires or cables and which are situated outside the corporate limits of a city.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1951, Ch. 764.)

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8031

text:
No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain vertically on any pole any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, without causing such wire or cable to be at all times wholly incased in a casing equal in durability and insulating efficiency to a wooded casing not less than one and one-half inches thick.

This section does not apply to vertical signal wires or cables on poles where no other such wires or cables are maintained, and which are outside the corporate limits of a city, nor to wires or cables run vertically on iron poles or structures where both pole or structure and conduit are securely grounded.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8032

text: No person shall place, erect, or maintain on any pole, or any crossarm or other appliance on the pole, which carries or upon which is placed an electric arc lamp, any transformer for transforming electric currents. This section shall not apply if the arc lamp is suspended so that it can be trimmed from the ground or from a stand located on the pole not less than seven feet below the transformer, and in so suspending the arc lamp no wire or cable in connection therewith is run vertically on the pole unless the wire or cable is protected as provided for in Section 8031.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8033

text: No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any wire or cable carrying more than 15,000 volts of electricity across any wire or cable carrying less than that voltage or across any public highway, except on a pole of such height and so placed at each crossing that under no circumstances can the wire or cable of a voltage higher than 15,000 volts in case of breakage thereof or otherwise, come in contact with any wire or cable of less than that voltage, or fall within a distance of ten (10) feet from the surface of any public highway; or in lieu thereof double strength construction may be installed, in which case the wires carrying a voltage higher than 15,000 volts shall, between the points of crossing, be of a cross-section area equal to at least twice that used in the line outside of such crossing, except where the conductor used is equal to number four (4) stranded Brown and Sharpe gauge or greater, in which case the wires or cables will be considered as complying with the law.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8034

text: No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any suspension wire to which is attached any aerial cable of 75 pair No. 19 Brown and Sharpe gauge or over, or of 100 pair No. 22 Brown and Sharpe gauge or over suspended from a crossarm, or from any other structure or appliance from which the suspension wire is hung, by a single bolt and clamp without at the same time attaching the suspension wire to the crossarms, structure, or appliance by an additional safety bolt and clamp, or other safety appliance for thus attaching the suspension wire of tensile strength equal to the first bolt and clamp.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8035

text: None of the provisions of Sections 8026 to 8034, inclusive, apply to direct current electric wires or cables having the same polarity, nor to signal wires when no more than two (2) of such signal wires are attached to any one pole, but no such direct current or signal wires shall in any case be run, placed, erected, or maintained within the distance of thirteen (13) inches from the center line of any pole other than the pole or poles on which the wires or cables are carried, carrying electric wires or cables. As between any two wires, or cables, or any wire or cable run, placed, erected, or maintained in violation of this section, only the wire or cable last in point of time run, placed, erected, or maintained shall be held to be run, placed, erected, or maintained thus in violation of this section.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8036

text: No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any span wire attached to any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, without causing the span wire to be at all times effectively insulated between the outer point at which it is in any case fastened to the pole or other structure by which it is hung or supported, and at the point at which it is in any case thus attached. Such insulation shall not in any case be placed less than two (2) feet or more than four (4) feet from the point at which the span wire is so attached. When in any case such span wire is attached along its length to any two (2) such wires or cables, conducting electricity and extending parallel to each other, not more than eighteen (18) feet apart, such insulation shall not be required therein at any point between such parallel wires or cables. This section does not apply where feeder wires are used in place of span wires.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8037

text: The commission may grant such additional time and shall inspect all work which is included in the provisions of this article, and may make such further additions or changes as the commission deems necessary for the purpose of safety to employees and the general public. The commission shall enforce the provisions of this article.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8038

text: Any violation of any provision of this article is a misdemeanor.

article: 2. Surface Transmission


citation: PUC § 8051

text: No person shall build or rebuild any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room used or to be used to contain, encase, cover, or conduct any wire, cable, or appliance, to conduct or handle electricity, unless such subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room has an inside measurement of not less than four feet at the maximum points between the side walls thereof, and between the end walls thereof, and not less than five feet at all points between the floor and the top or ceiling thereof, or if circular in shape, at least four feet diameter inside measurement and not less than five feet at all points between the floor and ceiling thereof. This section does not apply to any such subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room, within which it is not intended or required that any human being perform work or labor or be employed. This section does not apply where satisfactory proof is submitted to the commission that it is impracticable or physically impossible to comply with this law within the space or location so designated by the proper municipal authorities.

article: 3. Underground Transmission

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 5. Electrical Line Construction > 3. Underground Transmission


citation: PUC § 8052

text: No person shall build or rebuild in any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room used or to be used to contain, encase, cover, or conduct any wire, cable, or appliance to conduct or handle electricity, any opening to outer air which is less than 26 inches if circular in shape, or less than 24 inches by 26 inches clear measurement if rectangular in shape.

article: 3. Underground Transmission


citation: PUC § 8053

text: No person shall build or rebuild in any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room, used or to be used to contain, encase, cover, or conduct any wire, cable, or appliance to conduct or handle electricity, any opening which is at the surface of the ground, within the distance of three feet at any point from the rail of any railway or streetcar track. This section does not apply where satisfactory proof is submitted to the commission that it is impracticable or physically impossible to comply with this law in the space or location so designated by the proper municipal authorities.

article: 3. Underground Transmission


citation: PUC § 8054

text: No person shall build or rebuild any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room, used or to be used, to contain, encase, cover, or conduct any wire, cable, or appliance to conduct or handle electricity unless the floor of the subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room is made of stone, concrete, brick, or other similar material not subject to decomposition. This section does not apply to any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room within which it is not intended or required that any human being perform work or labor or be employed.

article: 3. Underground Transmission


citation: PUC § 8055

text: No person shall build or rebuild or maintain any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room used, or to be used, to contain, encase, cover, or conduct any wire, cable, or appliance to conduct or handle electricity, unless such subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room is kept at all times in a sanitary condition and free from stagnant water, seepage, or other drainage, or any offensive matter dangerous to health, either by sewer connection or otherwise. This section does not apply to any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room within which it is not intended or required that any human being perform work or labor, or be employed.

article: 3. Underground Transmission


citation: PUC § 8056

text: The commission may inspect all work which is included in the provisions of this article, and may make such further additions or changes as the commission deems necessary for the purpose of safety to employees and the general public. The commission shall enforce the provisions of this article.

article: 3. Underground Transmission


citation: PUC § 8057

article: 3. Underground Transmission


citation: PUC § 8101

text: Under certain conditions the sale and distribution of electric power and energy in the same geographical area both by an electrical utility and by an irrigation district, results in duplication of service, waste of materials, increase in costs, waste of manpower and economic loss, and is detrimental to the efficiency and best interests of such districts. It is the policy of this State to induce such utilities and irrigation districts to prevent or remove such economic waste and to adopt more efficient and economic methods of distribution of electric power and energy, and to that end encourage the definition of areas to be served or not to be served by each.

chapter: 6. Electric Service Areas

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 6. Electric Service Areas > 1. Designation by Public Utilities Commission


citation: PUC § 8102

text:
Any utility may petition the commission setting forth in its petition the following:

(a) That the petitioner and an irrigation district formed under the laws of this State are both engaged or propose to engage in the sale and distribution of electric power and energy in the described area or areas or in contiguous areas, or that the petitioner proposes to sell an electric distribution system in a described area, to such irrigation district.

(b) That the petitioner and irrigation district are desirous of entering into a contract in which, among other things, and as one of the considerations therefor, they consent to the limitation of areas which each are to serve or are to be excluded from serving.

(c) A copy of the contract or proposed contract.

(d) A description of the respective areas that the limitations will affect and the terms of the contract, if any, or the conditions, if any, existing in connection with such limitations or the sale or acquisition of a utility distribution system.

(e) A prayer that the commission issue its order limiting the area or areas within which the petitioner may, directly or indirectly, sell or distribute electric power or energy or define the area or areas within which the petitioner shall not sell or distribute electric power or energy as indicated in the petition and set forth in a contract or proposed contract.

article: 1. Designation by Public Utilities Commission


citation: PUC § 8103

text: Thereupon, the commission shall cause an investigation to be made and may conduct such hearings in connection therewith as it considers desirable.


citation: PUC § 8104

text: If the commission finds that it is for the best interests of the State and of the utility, and not incompatible with any public interest that the petition be granted, it shall make and issue its order limiting the area or areas within which the utility shall have the right and authority to sell or distribute electric power or energy, directly or indirectly, or define the area or areas within which the utility shall not have the right or authority to sell or distribute electric power or energy, directly or indirectly. The commission may, in its order, approve and thereby authorize the contract or conditions, if any, in connection therewith. No limitation or definition of area or areas or statement of conditions shall be included in the order except as contained in the petition and contract.


citation: PUC § 8106

text: Where limitation of areas to be served or limitations or designations of areas not to be served by the utility and by an irrigation district have heretofore been approved or are hereafter approved by the commission they shall be deemed to have complied with this article.


citation: PUC § 8107

text: In any civil or criminal action or proceeding for violation of the Cartwright Act (Chapter 530, Statues of 1907), Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, or any rule of statutory or common law against monopolies or combinations in restraint of trade, proof that the act complained of was done in compliance with this article or an order issued under it and in furtherance of the purposes and provisions of this article is a complete defense in such action or proceeding.


citation: PUC § 8108

text: If, in any contract submitted and approved by the commission or in any order made by the commission pursuant to application and petition as in this article provided, it is provided that the utility is not to serve or furnish electric energy in a specified area or areas, or is to furnish or serve electric energy under limited or specified circumstances only, or is to refrain from serving or furnishing electric energy in certain specified areas or under certain specified circumstances or under certain specified limitations, then, from and after the effective date of such order of the commission, it shall be unlawful for the utility to serve electric energy in any area or in any manner which the contract and order provides that service shall not be rendered, and the affected district shall be entitled, as a matter of right, to an injunction to prevent any such unlawful act on the part of the utility.


citation: PUC § 8201

text:
Any water company having a franchise to use the streets of a city, shall properly and adequately serve with water the inhabitants of the territory for the service of which it has such franchise.

As used in this section, to “properly and adequately serve with water” includes furnishing water of a quality meeting or exceeding standards established by the State Department of Health pursuant to Section 4026 of the Health and Safety Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1974, Ch. 229.)

chapter: 7. Miscellaneous Regulations

article: 1. Adequate Water Service

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 7. Miscellaneous Regulations > 1. Adequate Water Service


citation: PUC § 8202

text: If the commission has jurisdiction of extensions and service in the city it shall enforce a compliance with Section 8201. If the commission does not have such jurisdiction, then the governing body of the city shall adopt rules to enforce a compliance with Section 8201.

article: 1. Adequate Water Service


citation: PUC § 8203

text: In addition to the penalties which may be provided by the governing body of a city for failure to comply with such regulations adopted by it, any person aggrieved by the failure of any water company to comply with such regulations may recover, by civil action against such water company, twice the amount of damages he may sustain by reason of such failure.

article: 1. Adequate Water Service


citation: PUC § 8204

text: “Water company” as used in this article, includes any person, firm, or private corporation engaged in the business of supplying water for domestic use within any city.

article: 1. Adequate Water Service


citation: PUC § 8226

text: The Governor of the state may, upon the application of any railroad company, appoint and commission during his or her pleasure one or more persons designated by the company, to serve at the expense of the company, as police officers, who shall have the powers and authority of peace officers listed in Section 830.33 of the Penal Code, after being duly sworn. The company designating these persons shall be responsible civilly for any abuse of their authority.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 82, Sec. 16. Effective May 3, 1990.)

article: 2. Railroad and Steamboat Police

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 7. Miscellaneous Regulations > 2. Railroad and Steamboat Police


citation: PUC § 8227

text: Every peace officer designated under Section 8226 shall, when in uniform, wear in plain view a shield bearing the words “railroad police,” and the name of the company for which he or she is commissioned. When on duty, but not in uniform, the peace officer shall carry the shield upon his or her person and present it upon request.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 82, Sec. 17. Effective May 3, 1990.)

article: 2. Railroad and Steamboat Police


citation: PUC § 8251

text: It is unlawful for any public service corporation, or agent, superintendent, or manager thereof, employing any special agent, detective, or person commonly known as a “spotter,” for the purpose of investigating, obtaining, and reporting to the employer information concerning its employees, to discipline or discharge any employee, where such act of discipline or the discharge is based upon a report by such special agent, detective, or spotter, which report involves a question of integrity, honesty, or a breach of rules of the employer, unless such employer, its agent, superintendent, or manager, gives notice and accords a hearing to the employee thus accused, when requested by the employee. At such hearing the employer shall state specific charges on which act of discipline or discharge is based, and the accused employee shall have the right to furnish testimony in his defense.

article: 3. Use of “Spotter” Reports

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 7. Miscellaneous Regulations > 3. Use of “Spotter” Reports


citation: PUC § 8252

text: Each violation of this article by any person, firm, association, or corporation is a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not more than six hundred dollars ($600), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In case of a public service corporation committing any violation of this article, the imprisonment when imposed shall be imposed upon the officers or agents thereof committing such offense.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1092, Sec. 362. Effective September 27, 1983. Operative January 1, 1984, by Sec. 427 of Ch. 1092.)

article: 3. Use of “Spotter” Reports


citation: PUC § 8276

text: The commission shall prohibit any public utility that has any retirement funds invested in the government of Libya, or in any corporation based in that country, from including in its plant operating budget any losses incurred as a result of those investments.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 31, Sec. 6. Effective March 30, 1994.)

article: 4. Retirement Fund Investment Losses

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 7. Miscellaneous Regulations > 4. Retirement Fund Investment Losses


citation: PUC § 8277

text: The commission shall require every public utility to provide the commission with a list of its retirement fund investments in the government of Libya, or in any corporation based in that country.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 31, Sec. 7. Effective March 30, 1994.)

article: 4. Retirement Fund Investment Losses


citation: PUC § 8278

text: The commission shall verify the accuracy of the information provided pursuant to Section 8277, and shall disallow any losses incurred as a result of investments in the government of Libya, or in any corporation based in that country, in establishing rates for the public utility.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 31, Sec. 8. Effective March 30, 1994.)

article: 4. Retirement Fund Investment Losses


citation: PUC § 8279

text: This article does not prevent the commission from applying this article to public utility retirement fund investments in other countries such as, but not limited to, Libya, if comparable conditions warrant that application.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 31, Sec. 9. Effective March 30, 1994.)

article: 4. Retirement Fund Investment Losses


citation: PUC § 8281

text:
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the essence of the American economic system of private enterprise is free, open, and transparent competition. Only through free, open, and transparent competition can free markets, reasonable and just prices, and creative and innovative opportunities for growth of personal initiative and individual judgment be ensured. The preservation and expansion of that competition are basic to the economic well-being of this state and that well-being cannot be realized unless the actual and potential capacity of women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises is encouraged and developed. Therefore, it is the declared policy of the state to aid the interests of women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises in order to preserve reasonable and just prices and a free competitive enterprise, to ensure that a fair proportion of the total purchases and contracts or subcontracts for commodities, supplies, technology, property, and services for regulated public utilities, including, but not limited to, renewable energy, wireless telecommunications, broadband, smart grid, and rail projects, are awarded to women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises, and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the state.

(b) (1) The Legislature finds all of the following:

(A) The opportunity for full participation in our free enterprise system by women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises is essential if this state is to attain social and economic equality for those businesses and improve the functioning of the state economy. By providing more transparency on who is performing the work in the state, the state will see a broader and deeper economic impact.

(B) Public agencies and some regulated utilities that have established short- and long-range women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprise goals are awarding 30 percent or more of their contracts to these business enterprises.

(C) Women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises have traditionally received less than a proportionate share of regulated public utility procurement contracts, especially in renewable energy, wireless telecommunications, broadband, smart grid, and rail projects.

(D) It is in the state’s interest to expeditiously improve the economically disadvantaged position of women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises. It is also in the state’s interest to see the number of women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises increase by unbundling the work with prime contractors and enabling subcontractors of the prime contractor to report their subcontracted spending with women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises to further enhance the opportunities for women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises.

(E) The position of these businesses can be substantially improved by providing long-range substantial goals for procurement by regulated public utilities of technology, equipment, supplies, services, materials, and construction work, especially in renewable energy, wireless telecommunications, broadband, smart grid, and rail projects, from women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT businesses.

(F) That procurement also benefits the regulated public utilities and consumers of the state by encouraging the expansion of the number of suppliers for procurements, thereby encouraging competition among the suppliers and promoting economic efficiency in the process.

(G) That the long-term economic viability of this state depends substantially on the ability of renewable energy, wireless telecommunications, broadband, smart grid, and rail projects to incorporate women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT businesses into those projects.

(H) Employment within the state benefits local communities on many different levels, including, but not limited to, the state receiving more revenue from employee taxes, more consumable expenditures, and more wealth within the state. Monitoring employment beyond women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT entrepreneurs expands the economic reach to all suppliers and utilities operating in the state.

(2) It is the purpose of this article to do all of the following:

(A) Encourage greater economic opportunity for women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises.

(B) Promote competition among regulated public utility suppliers in order to enhance economic efficiency in the procurement of electrical, gas, water, wireless telecommunications service provider, and telephone corporation contracts and contracts of their commission-regulated subsidiaries and affiliates.

(C) Clarify and expand the program for the procurement by regulated public utilities of technology, equipment, supplies, services, materials, and construction work from women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 784, Sec. 3. (SB 1177) Effective January 1, 2025.)

path: 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES > 7. Miscellaneous Regulations > 5. Women, Minority, Disabled Veteran, and LGBT Business Enterprises