Chapter 5.5. Electric Microutilities of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 1. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 5.5.

As used in this chapter, the term "electric microutility" means any electrical corporation that is regulated by the commission and organized for the purpose of providing sole-source generation, distribution, and sale of electricity exclusively to a customer base of fewer than 2,000 customers.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission consider the legal, administrative, and operational costs that an electric microutility faces if it is named as a respondent in a hearing generally applicable to electrical corporations. The limited resources of a microutility are disproportionately strained by the cost of response.
  (b) Further, it is the intent of the Legislature that the commission consider the costs described in subdivision (a) before naming an electric microutility as a respondent in a hearing generally applicable to electrical corporations.