Article 1. Imposition Of Surcharge of California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 19. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 1.

(a) A surcharge is imposed on the consumption in this state of electrical energy purchased from an electric utility on and after January 1, 2003, at the rate of three-tenths mill ($0.0003) per kilowatt-hour, or at the rate determined pursuant to subdivision (b).
  (b) The Energy Commission shall fix the rate at a public meeting in each November for each calendar year starting the following January. Under no circumstances may the rate fixed exceed three-tenths mill ($0.0003) per kilowatt-hour. If the commission fails to fix the rate in any November, the surcharge shall continue at the rate in effect during that November.

Every person consuming electrical energy in this state purchased from an electric utility, or the United States or an agency thereof, is liable for the surcharge. His liability is not extinguished until the surcharge has been paid to this state, except that payment to an electric utility registered under this part is sufficient to relieve the consumer from further liability for the surcharge.

Every electric utility making sales of electrical energy to consumers in this state shall collect the surcharge from each consumer, other than a consumer that is an electric utility, at the time it collects its billings from the consumer for the electrical energy sold; provided, the duty to collect the surcharge from a consumer shall commence with the beginning of the first regular billing period applicable to that person which starts on or after the operative date of this part.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 40019, an electric utility may collect the surcharge from another electric utility under such terms and conditions as are agreed upon by the electric utilities involved and the board.

The surcharge required to be collected by the elecric utility from the consumer shall be added to the charges to the consumer for the electrical energy sold. The amount of the surcharge may be stated separately. If the electric utility does not separately state the amount of the surcharge, the electric utility shall print on the billing a notice to the effect that the charges include energy resources surcharge computed at (applicable rate) mill per kilowatt hour. Until January 1, 1976, such notice need not appear on the billing itself provided that the electric utility notifies each of its customers, no later than at the time it renders a bill for the first regular billing period applicable to that person which starts on or after the operative date of this part, that electical energy charges shall include energy resources surcharge computed at (applicable rate) mill per kilowatt-hour. If the Board of Equalization fixes a new rate in l975, the electric utility shall notify its customers of the new rate at or prior to the time a billing is rendered to the customer subject to the new rate if the electric utility does not separately state the amount of the surcharge or print on the billing notice that the surcharge is included in the charges.

The surcharge required to be collected by the electric utility, and any amount unreturned to the consumer which is not a surcharge but was collected from the consumer as representing a surcharge, constitutes debts owed by the electric utility to this state.

Any amounts collected by an electric utility from a consumer on account of the purchase of electrical energy the consumption of which is subject to the surcharge shall be applied proportionately between the liability of the consumer on account of the purchase of the electrical energy and the liability of the consumer for the surcharge.

An electric utility is relieved from liability to collect the surcharge insofar as the base upon which the surcharge is imposed is represented by accounts which have been found to be worthless and charged off in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. If the electric utility has previously paid the amount of the surcharge it may, under regulations prescribed by the board, take as a deduction on its return the amount found to be worthless and charged off. If any such accounts are thereafter collected in whole or in part the surcharge so collected shall be paid with the first return filed after such collection. The board may by regulation promulgate such other rules with respect to uncollected or worthless accounts as it shall deem necessary to the fair and efficient administration of this part.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, persons subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission need not obtain any authorization from the commission to comply with the provisions of this part.

The rate fixed by the board pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 40016 shall apply with respect to billing periods beginning on or after July 1, 1983.