Article 7. Receipts, Accounts, And Audits of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 7. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 7.

Receipts from the operation of a public utility shall be paid daily into the treasury of the district in a special fund set aside for such public utility.

The board may from time to time make appropriations from individual public utility funds for the following purposes:
  (a) The payment of operating expenses of the public utility and all or such portion of the general salary and expense fund of the district as the board determines is justly apportionable thereto.
  (b) Repairs and reconstruction.
  (c) Payment of interest and sinking fund on the bonds or indebtedness incurred or assumed for acquisition, construction, or completion of the public utility.
  (d) Extensions and improvements.
  (e) A reserve fund.

Whenever a reserve fund exceeds one-half of the payment for operating expenses in the preceding fiscal year, the board may appropriate such excess to the general fund.

The books of account of the district shall show all of the following:
  (a) The true and complete financial results of the ownership and operation of each public utility.
  (b) The actual cost of each public utility.
  (c) All costs of maintenance, extension, and improvement, and all operating expenses of every description.

The accounts of the district shall be examined at least once a year by an expert accountant, who shall report to the directors the result of his examination. He shall be employed and selected in such manner as the board directs, and shall receive for his services such compensation as the board prescribes, to be paid out of the income or revenues of the district.

Every two years the board may, and upon petition of 15 percent of the electors of the district shall, employ a qualified expert who shall with all due diligence examine and report upon the following:
  (a) The system of accounts kept by the district.
  (b) All the contracts made and entered into by the board within the two years immediately preceding.
  (c) The management of the utilities of the district, their operation, the service furnished, and the rates charged by the district.
  (d) The properties and investments of the district.
  (e) All official acts of the board relating to acquisition, construction, completion, extension, improvement, and betterment of the public utilities of the district.
  (f) The efficiency and adequacy of each public utility, and of the property used in connection with it or with its operation, the reasonableness of the service and commodities furnished, and of the rates and charges therefor.
  (g) All the business and affairs of the district relating to the ownership, management, and operation of each public utility of the district.

The expense of employing an expert shall not exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) at any one time, to be paid out of the income and revenues of the district, as the board prescribes.

Experts shall be selected by the Public Utilities Commission, and their names and addresses certified to the board of directors of the district. Several experts may be so selected and certified.

Whenever an expert is to be employed pursuant to Section 16606, at least four months before each biennial district election the board shall request in writing the Public Utilities Commission to select and certify experts. The commission shall transmit the names of experts to the board making the request within two weeks after receipt of the request by the commission.

Within 10 days after receipt of a certification the board shall by resolution entered on its minutes employ the expert, or one of the experts selected and certified, fix the amount of his compensation either absolutely or on a per diem basis, and notify the expert of his appointment.

In his report the expert shall make such recommendations and suggestions as to him seem proper and required for the good of the district, the efficient and economical or advantageous management and operation of the public utility of the district, and the business and affairs of the district relating to such management and operation.

In his report the expert shall make such recommendations and suggestions as to:
  (a) The system of accounts kept, or in his judgment to be kept in connection with each public utility.
  (b) The classification of the public utilities of the district and the establishment of a system of accounts for each class.
  (c) The manner in which such accounts shall be kept.
  (d) The forms of accounts, records, and memoranda kept or to be kept, including accounts, records, and memoranda of receipts and expenditures of money, and depreciation and sinking fund accounts, as in his judgment are proper and necessary.

The expert shall enter upon his duties at least 90 days before the next impending biennial district election, and shall complete his examination and file his report at least 30 days before the election.

The expert's report shall be made in duplicate to the electors of the district. One copy shall be filed with the board in the office of the clerk of the district, and one copy shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the district, or the greater part of its population, is situated. The county recorder shall record, index, and keep the report as a public record in his office, and shall make no charge for such recording.