California Assembly Bill 1890 (Statutes of 1996) and Assembly Bill 995 (Statutes of 2000) provides the framework for California's Public Benefits Program, including guidance about how such a program should be funded by each utility. Specific requirements of the program are articulated in Sections 385 and and 399.8 of the state's Public Utilities Code.  In general, based on a formula contained in the Code, publicly-owned utilities are required to fund the program through the use of a non-bypassable surcharge on all local distribution service in an amount no less than 2.85% of annual utility revenues. 

While there is wide flexibility regarding the planning and implementation of each utility's programs, expenditures must fall under one or more of four categories:

• Cost-effective demand-side management 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.

NCPA's membership provides a wide variety of services to its customer base, carefully balancing state energy policy objectives with the specific needs of its constituents.  For more information on NCPA's Public Benefits program, please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it