AB 674

This bill makes various changes to procedures for complaints filed with the

Public Service Commission, including the following:

1. Authorizing PSC to investigate complaints filed by persons adversely

affected by a person who has received a Certificate of Public Convenience and

Necessity from PSC. Under current law, a person must obtain a CPCN before

constructing a large electric generating facility or a high-voltage transmission line.

2. Authorizing PSC to investigate complaints filed by persons adversely

affected by a continuous interruption of electric or gas service exceeding 180 minutes

or who experienced at least two separate interruptions of electric or gas service

during a one-year period.

3. Requiring PSC to disclose, upon request of a complainant or public utility

or party that is the subject of a complaint, all documents and written materials that

are generated or gathered related to the complaint. Under the bill, PSC may decline

to disclose the documents and written materials if it determines that that disclosure

would jeopardize an ongoing investigation, but PSC must disclose the documents

and written materials as soon as it is feasible to do so without jeopardizing the

investigation.

4. Prohibiting PSC from dismissing a complaint unless a majority of the

commission votes to dismiss the complaint while present at a hearing that is open

to the public.

5. Prohibiting PSC from dismissing a complaint for failure to contact the public

utility against whom a complaint was made if the complainant made at least one

documented attempt to contact the public utility before filing the complaint and

certain other conditions are satisfied.

6. Authorizing PSC to order any appropriate relief, including a lower rate, a bill

credit, or other compensation for complainants and similarly situated persons. The

cost to a public utility of any relief ordered by PSC may not be recovered through the

public utility's rates.

7. Requiring PSC to provide information on its website about the process for

filing a complaint.

8. Authorizing PSC to combine multiple investigations into a single

investigation if it determines that the investigations arise from complaints made

against the same person and the subject matter of the complaints is substantially

similar.

9. Prohibiting PSC from closing to the public a hearing based on a complaint

unless both the complainant and the person that is the subject of the complaint

consent.

10. Increasing from 10 days to 20 days the amount of notice that PSC must give

to a complainant and a public utility or person that is the subject of a complaint

before holding a hearing related to a complaint.