Laws, Regulations and Annotations

Search

Business Taxes Law Guide—Revision 2024

BTLG Table of Contents > Natural Gas Surcharge Law > Public Utilities Code > entire chapter

Natural Gas Surcharge Law

Public Utilities Code

Division 1. Regulation of Public Utilities
Part 1. Public Utilities Act
Chapter 4. Regulation of Public Utilities

* * * *

Regulations pertaining to the law can be found at California Code of Regulations, Title 18, Sections 4901, 4902, and 4905.

Note: The remaining administrative provisions related to this fee can be found under Fee Collection Procedures Law, Revenue and Taxation Code §§ 55001–55381.

(Part 1, Division 1, Public Utilities Code)

Enacted Statutes 2000, Chapter 932 (AB 1002), in effect January 1, 2001.

890. Natural gas surcharge. (a) On and after January 1, 2001, there shall be imposed a surcharge on all natural gas consumed in this state. The commission shall establish a surcharge to fund low-income assistance programs required by Sections 739.1, 739.2, and 2790 and cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities and public interest research and development authorized by Section 740 and not adequately provided by the competitive and regulated markets. Upon implementation of this article, funding for those programs shall be removed from the rates of gas utilities.

(b) (1) Except as specified in Section 898, a public utility gas corporation, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 891, shall collect the surcharge imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) from any person consuming natural gas in this state who receives gas service from the public utility gas corporation.

(2) A public utility gas corporation 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 public utility gas corporation has previously paid the amount of the surcharge it may, under regulations prescribed by the State Board of Equalization, take as a deduction on its return the amount found to be worthless and charged off. If any accounts are thereafter collected in whole or in part, the surcharge so collected shall be paid with the first return filed after that collection. The commission may by regulation promulgate other rules with respect to uncollected or worthless accounts as it determines to be necessary to the fair and efficient administration of this part.

(c) Except as specified in Section 898, all persons consuming natural gas in this state that has been transported by an interstate pipeline, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 891, shall be liable for the surcharge imposed pursuant to subdivision (a).

(d) The commission shall annually determine the amount of money required for the following year to administer this chapter and fund the natural gas related programs described in subdivision (a) for the service territory of each public utility gas corporation.

(e) The commission shall annually establish a surcharge rate for each class of customer for the service territory of each public utility gas corporation. A customer of an interstate gas pipeline, as defined in Section 891, shall pay the same surcharge rate as the customer would pay if the customer received service from the public utility gas corporation in whose service territory the customer is located. The commission shall determine the total volume of retail natural gas transported within the service territory of a utility gas provider, that is not subject to exemption pursuant to Section 896, for the purpose of establishing the surcharge rate.

(f) The commission shall allocate the surcharge for gas used by all customers, including those customers who were not subject to the surcharge prior to January 1, 2001.

(g) The commission shall notify the State Board of Equalization of the surcharge rate for each class of customer served by an interstate pipeline in the service territory of a public utility gas corporation.

(h) The State Board of Equalization shall notify each person who consumes natural gas delivered by an interstate pipeline of the surcharge rate for each class of customer within the service territory of a public utility gas corporation.

(i) The surcharge imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be in addition to any other charges for natural gas sold or transported for consumption in this state. Effective on July 1, 2001, the surcharge imposed pursuant to this article shall be identified as a separate line item on the bill of a customer of a public utility gas corporation.

(j) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), public utility gas corporations shall continue to collect in rates those costs of programs described in subdivision (a) of Section 890 that are uncollected prior to the operative date of this article.

891. Definitions. (a) "Gas utility" means any public utility gas corporation or interstate pipeline as defined in this section.

(b) "Public utility gas corporation" means a public utility gas corporation as defined in Section 216.

(c) "Interstate pipeline" means any entity that owns or operates a natural gas pipeline delivering natural gas to consumers in the state and is subject to rate regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

(d) Each gas utility shall notify the State Board of Equalization of its status under this section. Each person who consumes natural gas delivered by an interstate pipeline shall annually register with the State Board of Equalization. The State Board of Equalization may require any documentation that it determines to be necessary to implement this article.

892. Remittance of surcharge. The revenue from the surcharge imposed pursuant to this article and collected by a public utility gas corporation shall be paid to the State Board of Equalization in the form of remittances. Persons consuming natural gas delivered by an interstate pipeline shall pay the surcharge to the State Board of Equalization in the form of remittances. The board shall transmit the payments to the Treasurer who shall deposit the payments in the Gas Consumption Surcharge Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury.

892.1. Due date. The surcharges imposed by this part and the amounts thereof required to be collected by public utility gas corporations are due quarterly on or before the last day of the month next succeeding each calendar quarter.

892.2. Returns. On or before the last day of the month following each calendar quarter, a return for the preceding quarterly period shall be filed with the State Board of Equalization in such form as the board may prescribe. A return shall be filed by every public utility gas corporation, and by every person consuming, as defined in this article, natural gas transported by a provider other than the public utility gas corporation. The return shall be signed by the person required to file the return or by his or her duly authorized agent.

893. Administration. The State Board of Equalization shall administer the surcharge imposed pursuant to this article in accordance with the Fee Collection Procedures Law (Part 30 (commencing with Section 55001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

894. Collection. The State Board of Equalization may collect any unpaid surcharge imposed pursuant to this article.

895. Appropriation of funds. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the Gas Consumption Surcharge Fund are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, as follows:

(a) To the commission or an entity designated by the commission to fund programs described in subdivision (a) of Section 890. If the commission designates the Energy Commission to receive funds for public interest research and development, both of the following shall apply:

(1) The Controller shall transfer the funds to a separate subaccount within the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Fund. Notwithstanding Section 384 of this code and Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the subaccount are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal year, to pay the Energy Commission for its costs in carrying out its duties and responsibilities under this article.

(2) The Energy Commission may administer the program pursuant to Chapter 7.1 (commencing with Section 25620) of Division 15 of the Public Resources Code.

(b) To pay the commission for its costs in carrying out its duties and responsibilities under this article.

History—Stats. 2005, Ch. 98 (AB 1732), effective July 21, 2005, added second sentence, beginning "If the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission," to subdivision (a). Stats. 2006, Ch. 512 (SB 1250), in effect September 27, 2006, substituted "moneys" for "funds" after "Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code,", added "commission designates the" after "Section 890. If the" in, deleted "is designated by the commission" after "State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission" in, added "both of the following shall apply:" after "public interest research and development," in, deleted "the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission may administer the program pursuant to Chapter 7.1 (commencing with Section 25620) of Division 15 of the Public Resources Code." in subdivision (a); and added paragraphs (1) and (2) to subdivision (a). Stats. 2019, Ch. 396 (AB 1513), effective January 1, 2020, substituted "Energy" for "State Energy Resources Conservation and Development". Stats. 2021, Ch. 115 (AB 148), effective July 22, 2021, added "the" after "shall transfer", added "." after "Demonstration Fund", and added "Notwithstanding Section 384 of this code and Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the subaccount are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal year," before "to pay" in paragraph (a)(1).

896. "Consumption." "Consumption" means the use or employment of natural gas. Consumption does not include the use or employment of natural gas to generate power for sale, the sale or purchase of natural gas for resale to end users, the sale or use of gas for enhanced oil recovery, natural gas utilized in cogeneration technology projects to produce electricity, or natural gas that is produced in California and transported on a proprietary pipeline. Consumption does not include the consumption of natural gas which this state is prohibited from taxing under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution.

897. Contracts. Nothing in this article impairs the rights and obligations of parties to contracts approved by the commission, as the rights and obligations were interpreted as of January 1, 1998.

898. Exemption from surcharge. Notwithstanding Section 890, a municipality, district, or public agency that offers in published tariffs home weatherization services, rate assistance for low-income customers, or programs similar to those described in subdivision (a) of Section 890, shall not be required to collect a surcharge pursuant to this article from customers within its service territory. A municipality, district, or public agency shall be required to collect a surcharge pursuant to this article from customers served by the municipality, district, or public agency outside of its service territory unless the commission determines that the entity offers those customers services similar to those offered by gas utilities as described in subdivision (a) of Section 890.

899. Exemption from surcharge. Sections 890 and 892 do not apply to any gas customer of a municipality, district, or public agency exempted by Section 898 from collecting a surcharge.

900. Program criteria. The commission shall determine the most efficient and cost-effective way to provide programs pursuant to Sections 739.1, 739.2, and 2790 in a consistent manner statewide by utility provider service territory. In determining the most cost-effective way to provide service that benefits persons eligible for low-income programs, the commission shall consider factors, including, but not limited to, outreach efforts to reach the targeted population and the types of discounts and services that should be provided by each utility. On or before July 1, 2001, the commission shall develop and implement efficient and cost-effective programs pursuant to Sections 739.1, 739.2, and 2790. The commission may conduct compliance audits to ensure compliance with any commission order or resolution relating to the implementation of programs pursuant to Sections 739.1, 739.2, and 2790, and may conduct financial audits.