The Public Utilities Act vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission, after a hearing, to make and serve an order directing additions, extensions, repairs, improvements, or other changes to be made to an existing plant, equipment, apparatus, facilities, or other physical property of a public utility, if it makes certain findings. Existing law requires that the commission, as a basis for making any such order relating to the location of structures, give consideration to, and include in its order, findings on community values, recreation and park areas, historical and aesthetic values, and, except as specified, influence on the environment.

This bill would require that the commission, as a basis for making an order relating to the location of structures, also give consideration to, and include in its order, findings on anticipated maintenance costs.

Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.