Chapter 9Electrical, Gas, Sewer, and Water Service for New Housing Construction

Section § 8400

Explanation

This law defines what "utility" means in this chapter. A utility can be various types of corporations or districts that provide electrical, gas, water, or sewer services to the public. These include specific types of corporations, municipalities, or municipal utility districts, public utility districts, and irrigation districts. It also includes joint powers authorities formed by these entities if they own or manage such services.

As used in this chapter, “utility” means any of the following that furnish electrical, gas, water, or sewer service, or any combination thereof, where the service is performed for, or the commodity is delivered to, the public or any portion thereof:
(a)CA Public Utilities Code § 8400(a) An electrical corporation, as defined in Section 218.
(b)CA Public Utilities Code § 8400(b) A gas corporation, as defined in Section 222.
(c)CA Public Utilities Code § 8400(c) A sewer system corporation, as defined in Section 230.6.
(d)CA Public Utilities Code § 8400(d) A water corporation, as defined in Section 241.
(e)CA Public Utilities Code § 8400(e) A municipality or municipal corporation operating as a public utility pursuant to Division 5 (commencing with Section 10001).
(f)CA Public Utilities Code § 8400(f) A municipal utility district formed pursuant to the Municipal Utility District Act (Division 6 (commencing with Section 11501)).
(g)CA Public Utilities Code § 8400(g) A public utility district formed pursuant to The Public Utility District Act (Division 7 (commencing with Section 15501)).
(h)CA Public Utilities Code § 8400(h) An irrigation district formed pursuant to the Irrigation District Law (Division 11 (commencing with Section 20500) of the Water Code).
(i)CA Public Utilities Code § 8400(i) A joint powers authority that includes one or more of the entities described in subdivisions (e) to (h), inclusive, and that owns electrical, gas, water, or sewer facilities, or furnishes electrical, gas, water, or sewer service over its own or its member’s system.
utility definition electrical corporation gas corporation water service sewer service municipal utility district public utility district irrigation district joint powers authority municipal services utility providers electricity suppliers gas suppliers water suppliers sewer corporations
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 787, Sec. 1. (SB 1210) Effective January 1, 2025.)

Section § 8401

Explanation

This law requires utilities to list their estimated fees and timeframe schedules for connecting utility services to new types of housing developments on their websites by January 1, 2026. These housing types include accessory dwelling units, multifamily, mixed-use, and single-family homes. Utilities with under 4,000 connections that can't maintain a website due to hardship are exempt if they publicly prove this hardship annually, citing reasons like poor internet access or limited finances.

(a)CA Public Utilities Code § 8401(a) On or before January 1, 2026, for new housing construction, each utility shall publicly post both of the following on its internet website:
(1)CA Public Utilities Code § 8401(a)(1) A schedule of estimated fees for typical service connections for each housing development type, including, but not limited to, accessory dwelling unit, multifamily, mixed-use, and single-family developments. This paragraph does not apply to a utility that continues to post a schedule of their fees with this information pursuant to Section 65940.1 of the Government Code.
(2)CA Public Utilities Code § 8401(a)(2) The estimated timeframes for completing typical service connections needed for each housing development type, including, but not limited to, accessory dwelling unit, mixed-use, multifamily, and single-family developments.
(b)Copy CA Public Utilities Code § 8401(b)
(1)Copy CA Public Utilities Code § 8401(b)(1) This section does not apply to a utility with fewer than 4,000 service connections that does not establish or maintain an internet website due to a hardship.
(2)CA Public Utilities Code § 8401(b)(2) The utility may establish that a hardship exists by annually adopting a resolution that includes detailed findings based on evidence that is publicly noticed before the meeting and included in the meeting agenda that supports the determination that a hardship prevents the utility from establishing or maintaining an internet website. The findings may include, but shall not be limited to, inadequate access to broadband communications network facilities that enable high-speed internet access, significantly limited financial resources, or insufficient staff resources.
utility service connections new housing construction estimated fees service connection timeframes accessory dwelling units multifamily developments mixed-use developments single-family homes internet posting requirement utilities hardship exemption high-speed internet access limited financial resources broadband communication facilities service utility requirements small utility exemption
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 787, Sec. 1. (SB 1210) Effective January 1, 2025.)