(a) (1) It is the policy of this state, and the intent of the Legislature, to reaffirm that each electrical corporation shall continue to operate its electric distribution grid in its service territory and shall do so in a safe, reliable, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

(2) In furtherance of this policy, it is the intent of the Legislature that each electrical corporation shall continue to be responsible for operating its own electric distribution grid including, but not limited to, owning, controlling, operating, managing, maintaining, planning, engineering, designing, and constructing its own electric distribution grid, emergency response and restoration, service connections, service turnons and turnoffs, and service inquiries relating to the operation of its electric distribution grid, subject to the commission‘s authority.

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(b) In order to ensure the continued efficient use, and cost-effective, safe, and reliable operation of the electric distribution grid, each electrical corporation shall continue to operate its electric distribution grid in its service territory consistent with Section 330.

(c) In carrying out the purposes of this section, each electrical corporation shall continue to make reasonable investments in its electric distribution grid. Each electrical corporation shall continue to have a reasonable opportunity to fully recover from all customers of the electrical corporation, in a manner determined by the commission pursuant to this code, all of the following:

(1) Reasonable investments in its electric distribution grid.

(2) A reasonable return on the investments in its electric distribution grid.

(3) Reasonable costs to operate its electric distribution grid.

(d) For purposes of this section, the term “electric distribution grid” means those facilities owned or operated by an electrical corporation that are not under the control of the Independent System Operator and that are used to transmit, deliver, or furnish electricity for light, heat, or power.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or to affect any of the following:

(1) Section 216, 218, or 2827.

(2) The authority of the commission to establish and enforce standards and tariff conditions for the interconnection of customer-owned facilities to the electric distribution grid.

(3) The ratemaking authority of the commission under this code.

(4) The authority of the commission to establish rules governing the extension of service to new customers.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or affect any authority or lack of authority of the commission regarding the ownership and operation of new electric generation used in whole, or in part, for the purpose of maintaining or enhancing the reliability of the electric distribution grid.

(g) Nothing in this section diminishes or expands any existing authority of a local governmental entity.

(h) The commission shall require every electrical corporation operating an electric distribution grid to inform all customers who request residential service connections via telephone of the availability of the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) program and how they may qualify for and obtain these services and shall accept applications for the CARE program according to procedures specified by the commission. Electrical corporations shall recover the reasonable costs of implementing this subdivision.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1050, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2001.)