Assembly Bill (AB) 301 (Wright) was approved by the Governor on September 28, 1999, and became effective January 1, 2000. The bill adds Pub. Util. Code §1708.5 and requires the Commission to:
(1) permit interested persons to petition the Commission to adopt, amend, or repeal a regulation;
(2) process these petitions under the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure in effect on January 1, 2000; and
(3) amend its Rules of Practice and Procedure on or before July 1, 2001, to provide more specific procedures for handling these petitions and possibly define more precisely the term "regulation" for the purpose of §1708.5.
Regulations are rules that have "general applicability" and "future effect." Examples of regulations that generally meet the above criteria include regulations that apply to a whole class of utilities or to a generic type of service or activity offered by utilities. A petition, under §1708.5, provides the public with an opportunity to participate in shaping Commission policy.
The Commission's Public Advisor is available to assist the general public in filing a petition under §1708.5. A more detailed explanation of a petition is available.