Section 853 Of Article 6. Transfer Or Encumbrance Of Utility Property From California Public Utilities Code >> Division 1. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 6.
853
. (a) This article does not apply to any person or corporation
which transacts no business subject to regulation under this part,
except performing services or delivering commodities for or to public
utilities or municipal corporations or other public agencies
primarily for resale or use in serving the public or any portion
thereof, but shall apply to any public utility, and any subsidiary or
affiliate of, or corporation holding a controlling interest in, a
public utility, if the commission finds, in a proceeding to which the
public utility is or may become a party, that the application of
this article is required by the public interest.
(b) The commission may from time to time by order or rule, and
subject to those terms and conditions as may be prescribed therein,
exempt any public utility or class of public utility from this
article if it finds that the application thereof with respect to the
public utility or class of public utility is not necessary in the
public interest. The commission may establish rules or impose
requirements deemed necessary to protect the interest of the
customers or subscribers of the public utility or class of public
utility exempted under this subdivision. These rules or requirements
may include, but are not limited to, notification of a proposed sale
or transfer of assets or stock and provision for refunds or credits
to customers or subscribers.
(c) The provisions of Sections 851 and 854 that prohibit any
assignment, acquisition, or change of control without advance
authorization from the commission, do not apply to the transfer of
the ownership interest in a water utility, with 10,000 or fewer
service connections, from a decedent to a member of the decedent's
family in the manner provided in Section 240 of the Probate Code or
by a will, trust, or other instrument.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that transactions with
monetary values that materially impact a public utility's rate base
should not qualify for expedited advice letter treatment pursuant to
this article. It is the further intent of the Legislature that the
commission maintain all of its oversight and review responsibilities
subject to the California Environmental Quality Act, and that public
utility transactions that jurisdictionally require a review by the
commission, as the lead agency, under the act should not qualify for
expedited advice letter treatment pursuant to this article. An advice
letter may be filed for transactions by the public utility if the
lead agency has completed the appropriate review under the California
Environmental Quality Act for the transaction, and the commission is
the responsible agency under the act. The advice letter shall be
subject to approval by resolution voted upon by the commission.