SB 106 Summary

• Requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to hold monthly sessions in either San Francisco or Sacramento instead of San Francisco only.

• Mandates PUC notify the Joint Legislative Budget Committee when contracting outside legal counsel for criminal investigations exceeding $1,000,000 and prohibits such contracts from covering individual employee representation except under limited circumstances.

• Removes requirement that PUC's attorney provide legal staff to the Office of Ratepayer Advocates; instead requires PUC to coordinate with the office to develop conflict-of-interest procedures.

• Requires Department of Finance to assess PUC's energy-related activities and positions to ensure they support the agency's core mission, with report due April 1, 2016.

• Establishes expedited dispute resolution process for distributed generation grid interconnection disputes with 60-day resolution goal and appropriates $5,000,000 to the PUC.