California Assembly Bill 1890, enacted in 1996, established the requirement for California utilities to fund Public Benefit Programs through 2001.  California Assembly Bill 995, enacted in 2001, extended the requirement through 2011. Under the program, publicly-owned utilities are required to spend 2.85% of utility revenues on Public Benefit Programs. While there is wide flexibility regarding the planning and implementation of such programs, expenditures must fall under one or more of four categories:

• Cost-effective DSM services to promote energy efficiency and energy conservation,
• New investments in renewable energy technologies,
• Research, Development, and Demonstration, and
• Services provided for low-income electricity customers.