ARTICLE 3. Utility Works and Services [16461. - 16489.]

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC 3.
in effect

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16461. Section 16461.

A district may acquire, construct, own, operate, control, or use, within or without or partly within and partly without the district, works for supplying its inhabitants with light, water, power, heat, transportation, telephone service, or other means of communication, or means for the disposition of garbage, sewage, or refuse matter, and may do all things necessary or convenient to the full exercise of the powers granted in this article.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16461.5. Section 16461.5.

(a) The Shasta Dam Area Public Utility District may construct those public works necessary for the industrial and commercial development of any undeveloped property owned by the district prior to January 12, 1990. A decision by the Shasta Dam Area Public Utility District to construct public works pursuant to this section is a legislative act subject to referendum pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 9340) of Chapter 4 of Division 9 of the Elections Code. The improvements shall comply with all of the ordinances, resolutions, policies, and other standards of the city or county in which the property is located, and comply with all state laws governing public works and public agencies. (b) Any contract awarded by the Shasta Dam Area Public Utility District pursuant to this section shall be considered a public works project subject to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1720) of Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code. (c) None of the costs for public works constructed pursuant to this section shall be borne by Shasta Dam Area Public Utility District customers.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16461.10. Section 16461.10.

A district that provides broadband Internet access services shall comply with the requirements of Article 12 (commencing with Section 53167) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16462. Section 16462.

A district may also purchase any of such commodities or services from any other utility district, municipality, person, or private company, and distribute them.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16463. Section 16463.

A district may acquire, construct, own, complete, use, and operate a fire department, street lighting system, public parks, public playgrounds, golf courses, public swimming pools, public recreation buildings, buildings to be used for public purposes, and works to provide for the drainage of roads, streets, and public places, including, but not limited to, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and pavement of streets. For purposes of this division, all of those projects shall be considered a public utility or public utility works.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16463.5. Section 16463.5.

(a) A district may exercise any of the powers, functions, and duties which are vested in, or imposed upon, a fire protection district pursuant to the Fire Protection District Law of 1987, Part 3 (commencing with Section 13800) of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code. (b) If the district includes any part of a local agency which provides fire protection service to any territory in the district, the district shall have no authority regarding the prevention and suppression of fires in that territory, unless the district has obtained the consent of the local agency.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16464. Section 16464.

A district may construct works across or along any street or public highway, or over any land which is the property of the state, and has the same rights and privileges appertaining thereto as are granted to cities within the state.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16467. Section 16467.

Only revenue producing utilities shall be acquired, owned, or operated by a district. So far as possible the board shall fix such charges for commodities or service furnished by any revenue producing utility as will pay all of the expenses of the government of the district, or such portion as the board determines justly apportionable to such utility. The expenses to be paid include: (a) Salaries, office expenses, and other necessary disbursements. (b) The operating expenses of the utility. (c) The interest on any indebtedness incurred for the acquisition, construction, and completion of the utility. (d) Provisions for a sinking or other appropriate fund for the payment of the principal of such debt as it becomes due. (e) Provisions for an appropriate fund for repairs, replacements, and betterments. It is the intention of this section that a district pay all of such charges and expenditures and the interest and principal of its debt from the revenues derived by the district from the operation of its public utilities, and that each public utility owned and operated by a district shall be self-sustaining.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16467.1. Section 16467.1.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 16467 of this code, fire departments, street lighting systems, public parks, public playgrounds, public swimming pools, public recreation buildings, buildings used for a public purpose, and works to provide for the drainage of roads, streets, and public places, including, but not limited to, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and pavement of streets need not be operated on a self-sustaining, revenue-producing basis. Revenue to defray the cost of acquiring, constructing, installing, maintaining, improving, and operating such utilities and to pay the principal and interest and to create reserve and sinking funds on any indebtedness incurred in connection therewith, may be raised in any manner authorized by this division.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16469. Section 16469.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), charges unpaid at the time specified for the fixing of the rate of taxes may be added to and become part of the annual assessment levied upon the land upon which the commodity or service was used if the property is owned, controlled, or in the possession of the same person who owned, controlled, or was in possession of it during the time the service charges were incurred or if the only transfers made of the property since the date the charges were incurred have been transfers by gift, descent, bequest, or devise. (b) No district furnishing water for residential use to a tenant shall seek to recover any charges or penalties for the furnishing of water to or for the tenant’s residential use from any subsequent tenant on account of nonpayment of charges by a previous tenant. The district may, however, require that service to subsequent tenants be furnished on the account of the landlord or property owner.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16470. Section 16470.

Charges added to an assessment are a lien on the land, except that if, during the year preceding the date on which the first installment of real property taxes which evidence the charges appears on the roll, any real property to which such lien would attach has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value, or if a lien of a bona fide encumbrancer for value has been created and attaches thereon, then the lien which would otherwise be imposed by this section shall not attach to such property and the district shall within three years after the amount is due file for record in the office of any county recorder a certificate specifying the amount, interest, and penalty due, the name and address as it appears on the records of the district of the person liable for the same, and the fact that the district has complied with all provisions of this part in the determination of the amount required to be paid. From the time of recordation of the certificate, the amount required to be paid together with interest and penalty constitutes a lien upon all real property in the county owned by the person or afterwards and before the lien expires acquired by him. The lien has the force, effect, and priority of a judgment lien and shall continue for 10 years from the time of the filing of the certificate unless sooner released or otherwise discharged. The lien may, within 10 years from the date of the filing of the certificate or within 10 years from the date of the last extension of the lien in the manner herein provided, be extended by filing for record a new certificate in the office of the county recorder of any county and from the time of such filing the lien shall be extended to the real property in such county for 10 years unless sooner released or otherwise discharged.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16471. Section 16471.

If the assessment is divided and made payable in two installments, the unpaid charges may be added to and become a part of the first installment of the assessment.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16472. Section 16472.

When the board declares that charges are to be added to the annual assessment and the district is availing itself of assessments made by the assessor of any county in which the district is situated, the board shall include in the statement of the tax rate to be transmitted to the county auditor the amount of each of the charges to be levied, and the auditor shall make the charges a part of the assessment in accordance with the statement.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16472.1. Section 16472.1.

(a) Notwithstanding Sections 16469 to 16472, inclusive, and as an alternative to the procedures specified in those sections, a district may provide by resolution or ordinance that delinquent water charges and interest and penalties thereon constitute a lien on the real property served to the extent that the property is owned by the person or entity receiving the service, when a certificate is recorded pursuant to this section, which shall continue in effect until the amount of charges, interest, and penalties are paid or the property is sold to satisfy the charges, interest, and penalties. No lien may be created under this section on any publicly owned property. (b) A lien pursuant to this section attaches when the district files for record in the office of the county recorder a certificate specifying the amount of charges, interest, and penalties due; the name of the owner of record of the property who received the water service; the legal description of the property served; and the fact that the district has complied with all provisions of this part in the determination of the charges, interest, and penalties due. From the time of recordation of the certificate, the charges, interest, and penalties constitute a lien on the property. Within 30 days of receipt of payment of all costs specified in subdivision (a), or within 30 days of a demand by an escrow agent in the event of a voluntary sale, the district shall record in the office of the county recorder a release of the lien created by this section. (c) The county recorder shall charge the district the fees specified in Sections 27361 and 27361.4 of the Government Code for recording any certificate pursuant to subdivision (b), which certificate shall be indexed to the name of the property owner as grantor and the district as grantee. (d) This section is in addition to any other remedies available to a district.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16472.5. Section 16472.5.

(a) In order to enforce the provisions of any ordinance of the district, including an ordinance fixing charges for the furnishing of commodities or services, the district may correct any violation of an ordinance of the district. The district may also petition the superior court for the issuance of a preliminary or permanent injunction, or both, as may be appropriate, restraining any person from the continued violation of any ordinance of the district or for the issuance of an order stopping or disconnecting a service if the charges for that service are unpaid at the time specified in the ordinance. (b) The district may enter upon the private property of any person within the jurisdiction of the district in order to investigate possible violations of an ordinance of the district. The investigation shall be made with the consent of the owner or tenant of the property or, if consent is refused, with a warrant duly issued pursuant to the procedures set forth in Title 13 (commencing with Section 1822.50) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except that, notwithstanding Section 1822.52 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the warrant shall be issued only upon probable cause.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16473. Section 16473.

Whenever there is a surplus of available water, light, heat, or power above that which is required by the inhabitants or municipalities within the district, the district may sell or otherwise dispose of such surplus outside of the district to persons, firms, and public or private corporations.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16474. Section 16474.

Whenever any of the facilities, works, or utilities of all or part of a district is not used or employed to its fullest capacity for the benefit or requirements of the district or its inhabitants, the district may employ such surplus facilities to supply any of its public utility services outside the boundaries of the district upon such terms and conditions and under such agreement as its board determines is for the best interests of the district. Any public utility service supplied by a district outside its boundaries shall not exceed in amount the same type of public utility service supplied by the district within its boundaries.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16475. Section 16475.

(a) A public utility district which acquires, constructs, owns, operates, controls or uses works for supplying its inhabitants with water, may, pursuant to the notice, protest, and hearing procedures in Section 53753 of the Government Code, fix and collect a water standby or immediate availability charge on all land within its boundaries to which water is made available for any purpose by the district, whether the water is actually used or not, except that such charge shall not supply to lands permanently dedicated exclusively to transportation of persons or property. If the procedures set forth in this section as it read at the time a standby charge was established were followed, the district’s board of directors may, by resolution, continue the charge pursuant to this section in successive years at the same rate. If new, increased, or extended assessments are proposed, the district shall comply with the notice, protest, and hearing procedures in Section 53753 of the Government Code. (b) The board of directors of the district which fixes such a charge may establish schedules varying the charges in different months and in different localities within a public utility district depending upon factors such as the uses to which the land is put, the cost of transporting the water to the land, the degree of availability or quantity of use of such water to the affected lands. The board may not, however, fix an annual charge in excess of ten dollars ($10) per acre or in excess of five dollars ($5) for parcel of less than one acre, unless the standby charge is imposed pursuant to the Uniform Standby Charge Procedures Act (Chapter 12.4 (commencing with Section 54984) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code). (c) If a person for more than one year obtains substantially all of his or her water requirements for the contiguous parcels of land which he or she occupies from rainfall, springs, streams, lakes, rivers, or wells, and if the person’s primary economic activity on such land is the commercial extraction or processing of minerals, such land shall be exempt from any water standby or availability charges. (d) Any funds derived from the charges levied pursuant to this section may be used by the district for all purposes which a public utility district is authorized to expend funds insofar as said purposes relate to the acquisition, construction, operation, control, or use of works for supplying its inhabitants with water.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16476.1. Section 16476.1.

(a) The Tahoe City Public Utility District may acquire, construct, install, maintain, improve, or operate public walkways, paths, sidewalks, trails, and public parking facilities if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The district board of directors passes an ordinance pursuant to Sections 16072 to 16084, inclusive, authorizing the district to exercise these powers. (2) The Board of Supervisors of Placer County adopts a resolution authorizing the district to exercise these powers. (3) The improvements comply with all of the ordinances, resolutions, policies, and other standards of the city or county in which the property is located, and comply with all state laws governing public works and public agencies. (b) Notwithstanding Section 16467, the services, facilities, or installations or operation thereof provided for in subdivision (a) need not be financed on a revenue-producing basis. Revenue to defray the cost of constructing, installing, maintaining, and operating the facilities or services or to pay the principal and interest and to create reserve and sinking funds on any indebtedness incurred in connection therewith, may be raised in any manner authorized by this division. (c) Assessments levied to pay for the acquisition, construction, installation, maintenance, improvement, or operation of public walkways, paths, sidewalks, trails, and public parking facilities pursuant to this section shall be subject to approval by a majority vote of the property owners of the assessment district in which the services, facilities, or installations are located.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16477. Section 16477.

Notwithstanding Section 16475, the Board of Directors of the Fallbrook Public Utility District may, pursuant to the notice, protest, and hearing procedures in Section 53753 of the Government Code, fix and collect an annual water standby or immediate availability charge. The standby or immediate availability charge shall not exceed thirty dollars ($30) per acre or any parcel of less than one acre, unless the standby or immediate availability charge is imposed pursuant to the Uniform Standby Charge Procedures Act (Chapter 12.4 (commencing with Section 54984) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code). The Legislature hereby finds and declares that this section, applicable only to the Fallbrook Public Utility District, is necessary because of the unique and special water management problems within that district.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16478. Section 16478.

The Board of Directors of the Tahoe City Public Utility District, the Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District, and the Board of Directors of the North Tahoe Public Utility District shall each have the authority to fix and collect an annual standby charge for sewage service on all lands within the district under its jurisdiction, in such amount as the board shall specify, provided that such standby charge for sewage service shall not exceed ten dollars ($10) per acre for parcels in excess of one acre or twenty dollars ($20) per parcel for parcels less than one acre, unless the standby charge is imposed pursuant to the Uniform Standby Charge Procedures Act (Chapter 12.4 (commencing with Section 54984) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code). The standby charge authorized by this section shall be imposed only pursuant to the notice, protest, and hearing procedures in Section 53753 of the Government Code. If the procedures set forth in this section as it read at the time a standby charge was established were followed, that charge pursuant to this section may be levied at the same rate in subsequent years without the requirement of a hearing, provided that if new, increased, or extended assessments are proposed, the board of directors shall comply with the notice, protest, and hearing procedures in Section 53753 of the Government Code. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that this section, applicable only to the Tahoe City Public Utility District, the South Tahoe Public Utility District, and the North Tahoe Public Utility District is necessary because of the unique and special water management, pollution, and sewage disposal problems of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16479. Section 16479.

If the Board of Directors of the Tahoe City Public Utility District or of the North Tahoe Public Utility District determines to use all or any portion of a surplus remaining in the improvement fund from any assessment proceeding to improve the sewer system within district’s jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (c) of Section 10427 of the Streets and Highways Code, all of the surpluses to be used for the maintenance of the improvements may be transferred by the legislative body to a single fund for the maintenance and operation of the sewer system without regard to the proportion of the funds so created attributable to each proceeding from which the surplus arose. The board of directors shall transfer to such single fund the same percentage of the surplus from each improvement fund. The fact that in one or more of such improvement funds no surplus exists shall not prevent the board of directors from proceeding pursuant to this section as to all improvement funds in which a surplus does exist if a surplus of no less than 2 1 2 percent of the total cost exists in no less than 75 percent of such funds. This section, applicable only to the Tahoe City Public Utility District and the North Tahoe Public Utility District, is necessary because of unique and special fiscal management problems of improvement districts in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16480. Section 16480.

(a) Every district furnishing light, heat, or power shall expend no funds for advertising when such advertising encourages increased consumption of such services or commodities. (b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a district furnishing light, heat, or power from expending funds for advertising which encourages the more efficient operation of the facilities, works, or utilities of the district, or for advertising which encourages the more efficient use of light, heat, or power, the conservation of energy or natural resources, or presents accurate information on the economical purchase, maintenance, or use of any appliance or device using light, heat, or power.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16480.5. Section 16480.5.

Whenever a business transaction of a public utility district furnishing electricity, gas, water service where the utility has 10,000 or more service connections, or telephone service is such that a personal appearance by a person is required by the district and the person is unable to appear at the district’s place of business during the district’s usual business hours, then the district shall provide a reasonable and convenient alternative to the person such as an appointment outside the district’s usual business hours or allowing the person to conduct the transaction by telephone, mail, or both.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16481. Section 16481.

(a) This section applies if there is a landlord-tenant relationship between the residential occupants and the owner, manager, or operator of the dwelling. (b) If a district furnishes individually metered residential light, heat, water, or power to residential occupants in a detached single-family dwelling, multiunit residential structure, mobilehome park, or permanent residential structure in a labor camp, as defined in Section 17008 of the Health and Safety Code, and the owner, manager, or operator is the customer of record, the district shall make every good faith effort to inform the residential occupants, by means of written notice, when the account is in arrears, that service will be terminated in 10 days. The written notice shall further inform the residential occupants that they have the right to become customers of the district without being required to pay the amount due on the delinquent account. The notice shall be in English and in the languages listed in Section 1632 of the Civil Code. (c) The district is not required to make service available to the residential occupants unless each residential occupant agrees to the terms and conditions of service, and meets the requirements of the district’s rules. However, if one or more of the residential occupants are willing and able to assume responsibility for the subsequent charges to the account to the satisfaction of the district, or if there is a physical means, legally available to the district, of selectively terminating service to those residential occupants who have not met the requirements of the district’s rules, the district shall make service available to the residential occupants who have met those requirements. (d) If prior service for a period of time is a condition for establishing credit with the district, residence and proof of prompt payment of rent or other credit obligation acceptable to the district for that period of time is a satisfactory equivalent. (e) Any residential occupant who becomes a customer of the district pursuant to this section whose periodic payments, such as rental payments, include charges for residential light, heat, water, or power, where these charges are not separately stated, may deduct from the periodic payment each payment period all reasonable charges paid to the district for those services during the preceding payment period.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16481.1. Section 16481.1.

(a) If a district furnishes residential light, heat, water, or power to residential occupants through a master meter in a multiunit residential structure, mobilehome park, or permanent residential structure in a labor camp, as defined in Section 17008 of the Health and Safety Code, and the owner, manager, or operator of the structure or park is listed by the district as the customer of record, the district shall make every good faith effort to inform the residential occupants, by means of a written notice posted on the door of each residential unit at least 15 days prior to termination, when the account is in arrears, that service will be terminated on a date specified in the notice. If it is not reasonable or practicable to post the notice on the door of each residential unit, the district shall post two copies of the notice in each common area and at each point of access to the structure or structures. The notice shall further inform the residential occupants that they have the right to become customers, to whom the service will be billed, of the district without being required to pay the amount due on the delinquent account. The notice also shall specify, in plain language, what the residential occupants are required to do in order to prevent the termination or reestablish service; the estimated monthly cost of service; the title, address, and telephone number of a representative of the district who can assist the residential occupants in continuing service; and the address and telephone number of a legal services project, as defined in Section 6213 of the Business and Professions Code, which has been recommended by the local county bar association. The notice shall be in English and in the languages listed in Section 1632 of the Civil Code. (b) The district is not required to make service available to the residential occupants unless each residential occupant or a representative of the residential occupants agrees to the terms and conditions of service, and meets the requirements of law and the district’s rules. However, if one or more of the residential occupants or the representative of the residential occupants are willing and able to assume responsibility for subsequent charges to the account to the satisfaction of the district, or if there is a physical means, legally available to the district, of selectively terminating service to those residential occupants who have not met the requirements of the district’s rules or for whom the representative of the residential occupants is not responsible, the district shall make service available to the residential occupants who have met those requirements or on whose behalf those requirements have been met. (c) If prior service for a period of time or other demonstration of credit worthiness is a condition for establishing credit with the district, residence and proof of prompt payment of rent or other credit obligation during that period of time acceptable to the district is a satisfactory equivalent. (d) Any residential occupant who becomes a customer of the district pursuant to this section whose periodic payments, such as rental payments, include charges for residential light, heat, water, or power, where these charges are not separately stated, may deduct from the periodic payment each payment period all reasonable charges paid to the district for those services during the preceding payment period. (e) If a district furnishes residential service subject to subdivision (a), the district may not terminate that service in any of the following situations: (1) During the pendency of an investigation by the district of a customer dispute or complaint. (2) If the customer has been granted an extension of the period for payment of a bill. (3) For an indebtedness owed by the customer to any other public agency or when the obligation represented by the delinquent account or other indebtedness was incurred with any public agency other than the district. (4) If a delinquent account relates to another property owned, managed, or operated by the customer. (5) If a public health or building officer certifies that termination would result in a significant threat to the health or safety of the residential occupants or the public. (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and in addition to any other remedy provided by law, if the owner, operator, or manager, by any act or omission, directs, permits, or fails to prevent a termination of service while any residential unit is occupied, the residential occupant or the representative of the residential occupants may commence an action for the recovery of all of the following: (1) Reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the residential occupant or the representative of the residential occupants related to restoration of service. (2) Actual damages related to the termination of service. (3) Reasonable attorney’s fees of the residential occupants, the representative of the residential occupants, or each of them, incurred in the enforcement of this section, including, but not limited to, enforcement of a lien. (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and in addition to any other remedy provided by law, if the owner, manager, or operator, by any act or omission, directs, permits, or fails to prevent a termination of service while any residential unit receiving that service is occupied, the corporation may commence an action for the recovery of all of the following: (1) Delinquent charges accruing prior to the expiration of the notice prescribed by subdivision (a). (2) Reasonable costs incurred by the corporation related to the restoration of service. (3) Reasonable attorney’s fees of the corporation incurred in the enforcement of this section or in the collection of delinquent charges, including, but not limited to, enforcement of a lien. If the court finds that the owner, manager, or operator has paid the amount in arrears prior to termination, the court shall allow no recovery of any charges, costs, damages, expenses, or fees under this subdivision from the owner, manager, or operator. An abstract of any money judgment entered pursuant to subdivision (f) or (g) shall be recorded pursuant to Section 697.310 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (h) No termination of service subject to this section may be effected without compliance with this section, and any service wrongfully terminated shall be restored without charge to the residential occupants or customer for the restoration of the service. In the event of a wrongful termination by the district, the district shall, in addition, be liable to the residential occupants or customer for actual damages resulting from the termination and for the costs of enforcement of this section, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees, if the residential occupants or the representative of the residential occupants make a good faith effort to have the service continued without interruption. (i) The district shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement this section and shall liberally construe this section to accomplish its purpose of ensuring that service to the residential occupants is not terminated due to nonpayment by the customer unless the district has made every reasonable effort to continue service to the residential occupants. The rules and regulations shall include, but are not limited to, guidelines for assistance to actual users in the enforcement of this section and requirements for the notice prescribed by subdivision (a), including, but not limited to, clear wording, large and boldface type, and comprehensive instructions to ensure full notice to the actual users. (j) Nothing in this section broadens or restricts any authority of a local agency that existed prior to January 1, 1989, to adopt an ordinance protecting a residential occupant from the involuntary termination of residential public utility service. (k) This section preempts any statute or ordinance permitting punitive damages against any owner, manager, or operator on account of an involuntary termination of public utility service or permitting the recovery of costs associated with the formation, maintenance, and termination of a tenant’s association. ( l ) For purposes of this section, “representative of the residential occupants” does not include a tenants’ association.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16481.6. Section 16481.6.

The decision of a district to require a new residential applicant to deposit a sum of money with the district prior to establishing an account and furnishing service shall be based solely upon the credit worthiness of the applicant as determined by the district.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16482. Section 16482.

(a) No district furnishing its inhabitants with light, water, power, heat, or means for the disposition of garbage, sewage, or refuse matter may terminate residential service for nonpayment of a delinquent account unless the district first gives notice of the delinquency and impending termination, as provided in Section 16482.1. (b) No district shall terminate residential service for nonpayment in any of the following situations: (1) During the pendency of an investigation by the district of a customer dispute or complaint. (2) When a customer has been granted an extension of the period for payment of a bill. (3) On the certification of a licensed physician and surgeon that to do so will be life threatening to the customer and the customer is financially unable to pay for service within the normal payment period and is willing to enter into an amortization agreement with the district pursuant to subdivision (e) with respect to all charges that the customer is unable to pay prior to delinquency. (c) Any residential customer who has initiated a complaint or requested an investigation within five days of receiving the contested bill, or who has, within 13 days of mailing of the notice required by subdivision (a), made a request for extension of the payment period of a bill asserted to be beyond the means of the customer to pay in full during the normal period for payment, shall be given an opportunity for review of the complaint, investigation, or request by a review manager of the district. The review shall include consideration of whether the customer shall be permitted to amortize the unpaid balance of the account over a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 12 months. No termination of service shall be effected for any customer complying with an amortization agreement if the customer also keeps the account current as charges accrue in each subsequent billing period. (d) Any customer whose complaint or request for an investigation pursuant to subdivision (c) has resulted in an adverse determination by the district may appeal the determination to the board. Any subsequent appeal of the dispute or complaint to the board is not subject to this section. (e) Any customer meeting the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) shall, upon request, be permitted to amortize, over a period not to exceed 12 months, the unpaid balance of any bill asserted to be beyond the means of the customer to pay within the normal period for payment.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16482.1. Section 16482.1.

(a) A district furnishing light, heat, water, or power, or means for the disposition of garbage, sewage, or refuse matter, shall not terminate residential service on account of nonpayment of a delinquent account unless the district first gives notice of the delinquency and impending termination, at least 10 days prior to the proposed termination, by means of a notice mailed, postage prepaid, to the customer to whom the service is billed, not earlier than 19 days from the date of mailing the district’s bill for services, and the 10-day period shall not commence until five days after the mailing of the notice. (b) Every district shall make a reasonable, good faith effort to contact an adult person residing at the premises of the customer by telephone or personal contact, at least 48 hours prior to any termination of service, except that, whenever telephone or personal contact cannot be accomplished, the district shall give, by mail, in person, or by posting in a conspicuous location at the premises, a notice of termination of service, at least 48 hours prior to termination. (c) Every district shall make available to its residential customers who are 65 years of age or older, or who are dependent adults as defined in Section 15610.23 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, a third-party notification service, whereby the district will attempt to notify a person designated by the customer to receive notification when the customer’s account is past due and subject to termination. The notification shall include information on what is required to prevent termination of service. The residential customer shall make a request for third-party notification on a form provided by the district, and shall include the written consent of the designated third party. The third-party notification does not obligate the third party to pay the overdue charges, nor shall it prevent or delay termination of service. (d) Every notice of termination of service pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include all of the following information: (1) The name and address of the customer whose account is delinquent. (2) The amount of the delinquency. (3) The date by which payment or arrangements for payment is required in order to avoid termination. (4) The procedure by which the customer may initiate a complaint or request an investigation concerning service or charges, except that, if the bill for service contains a description of that procedure, the notice pursuant to subdivision (a) is not required to contain that information. (5) The procedure by which the customer may request amortization of the unpaid charges. (6) The procedure for the customer to obtain information on the availability of financial assistance, including private, local, state, or federal sources, if applicable. (7) The telephone number of a representative of the district who can provide additional information or institute arrangements for payment. Every notice of termination of service pursuant to subdivision (b) shall include the items of information in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (6), and (7). All written notices shall be in a clear and legible format. (e) If a residential customer fails to comply with an amortization agreement, the district shall not terminate service without giving notice to the customer at least 48 hours prior to termination of the conditions the customer is required to meet to avoid termination, but this notice does not entitle the customer to further investigation by the district. (f) A termination of service shall not be effected without compliance with this section. Any service wrongfully terminated shall be restored without charge for the restoration of the service, and a notation thereof shall be mailed to the customer the customer’s billing address.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16483. Section 16483.

No electrical, gas, heat, or water public utility district shall, by reason of delinquency in payment for any electric, gas, heat, or water services, cause cessation of any such services on any Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or at any time during which the business offices of the district are not open to the public.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16485. Section 16485.

(a) A public utility district which acquires, constructs, owns, operates, controls or uses works for supplying its inhabitants with electricity, may fix and collect charges in the manner provided in Article 3 (commencing with Section 16461) and Article 8 (commencing with Section 16641), Chapter 4, Division 7 of the Public Utilities Code, for an electricity standby or immediate availability charge on all lands within its boundaries to which electricity is made available for any purpose by the district, whether the electricity is actually used or not. (b) The board of directors of the districts which fixes such a charge may exempt certain classes of users from such a charge and may establish schedules varying the charges in different months and in different localities within a public utility district depending upon factors such as the uses to which the electricity is put, the cost of transmitting the electricity to the user, the degree of availability or quantity of use of such electricity. The board may not, however, fix an annual charge in excess of twenty dollars ($20) per acre or in excess of ten dollars ($10) for a parcel of less than one acre. (c) Any funds derived from the charges levied pursuant to this section may be used by the district for all purposes which a public utility district is authorized to expend funds insofar as these purposes relate to the acquisition, construction, operation, control, or use of works for supplying its inhabitants with electricity.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16486. Section 16486.

(a) In addition to all other powers, excepting telephone service, authorized by this division, the Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District may acquire, construct, own, and operate public parking facilities and cable television facilities and may provide snow removal and road maintenance services for all roads open to the public, including, but not limited to, public roads and roads offered for dedication but not accepted, within the district. Prior to providing any snow removal or road maintenance services, the district shall obtain the consent of any public agency owning the roads. Notwithstanding Section 16467, the facilities and services provided in this subdivision need not be operated on a self-sustaining, revenue-producing basis. Revenue to defray the cost of the facilities and services may be raised in any manner authorized by this division. (b) The Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District may exercise all of the powers of a mosquito abatement district or vector control district, as set forth in the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District Law (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 3 of the Health and Safety Code), within the service area of the Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16487. Section 16487.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District may issue bonds and incur indebtedness pursuant to the Improvement Act of 1911 (Division 7 (commencing with Section 5000) of the Streets and Highways Code), the Municipal Improvement Act of 1913 (Division 12 (commencing with Section 10000) of the Streets and Highways Code), the Improvement Bond Act of 1915 (Division 10 (commencing with Section 8500) of the Streets and Highways Code), or the Revenue Bond Law of 1941 (Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 54300) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, owning, and operating any revenue-producing improvement, building, system, plant, works, facilities, undertaking, or other enterprise used for or useful for the generation, production, transmission, or distribution of electricity or gas for light, heat, or power for public or private uses. If the Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District is not incorporated on or before March 1, 1986, this section is repealed on that date.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 16489. Section 16489.

The June Lake Public Utility District may exercise all of the powers of a mosquito abatement district or vector control district, as set forth in the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District Law (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 3 of the Health and Safety Code), within the service area of the June Lake Public Utility District.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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