AB 858

This bill requires the Public Service Commission to consider the social cost of carbon in determining whether to issue certificates required to construct large electric generating facilities or high-voltage transmission lines or to engage in certain other public utility projects. The bill defines “social cost of carbon” as an estimate, in dollars, representing the damage incurred by the emission of one additional metric ton of carbon dioxide, as calculated by the most recent scientific and economic advances in such a calculation, as determined by PSC, but not less than $185 per metric ton of carbon dioxide.

The bill also requires PSC to ensure in rate-making orders that 1) any costs for infrastructure necessary to expand the production and distribution of energy produced using fossil fuels may be recovered only from customers that receive the primary benefit of that infrastructure and 2) any costs incurred in transitioning from producing energy using fossil fuels to producing energy using renewable resources are not recovered from any customer.