(a) Upon receipt from the park or community owner of a deposit representing the gas or electric corporation’s estimated cost of the engineering evaluation, the gas or electric corporation shall, within 90 days, do all of the following:
(1) Develop an engineering plan for bringing the gas or electric system to the standard described in Section 2794, incorporating all relevant documentation including plans, drawings, engineering studies, and other existing documentation provided by the park or community owner, and considering incorporation of all portions of the gas or electric system found to be used, useful, and compatible.
(2) Develop an appraisal of the value to the gas or electric corporation of the physical plant and equipment found to be used, useful, and compatible that comprise the gas or electric system, or both, to be transferred, including an estimate of the remaining useful life of the gas or electric system. The value to the gas or electric corporation shall take into consideration the expenditures by the park or community owner to comply with the criteria established in Section 2794.
(3) Present a proposal, in sufficient detail to serve as a bid document for the transfer of ownership of the system to the gas or electric corporation.
(b) The proposal may be based on either of the following approaches or as the park or community owner and the gas or electric corporation mutually agree:
(1) The park or community owner is responsible for all construction and equipment replacement activity, if any, at the park or community owner’s expense less any credits or allowances, if any, including credits or allowances based on incremental increases in the gas or electric corporation’s revenues associated with the park or community owner’s investment in the gas or electric system. The construction and equipment replacement and the credits and allowances shall be based on the principles established in the gas or electric corporation’s line and service extension rules, if applicable.
(2) The gas or electric corporation shall pay the park or community owner for the appraised value to the gas or electric corporation of any gas or electric distribution facilities found to be used, useful, and compatible. If any new facilities are necessary, the park or community owner shall be responsible for the costs of the excavation, installation of substructures, conduit and meter panels, and surface repairs. Except as provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c), the gas or electric corporation shall be responsible for the costs of any additional construction and equipment replacement, including cabling and transformers.
(c) The proposal shall include the following:
(1) A description of construction and equipment replacement activity, if any, to be accomplished at the park or community owner’s expense.
(2) Requirements for any additional provisions or rights for the construction or maintenance of public utility facilities on park or community premises, including easements and rights-of-way acceptable to the gas or electric corporation.
(3) Any specific requirements or costs, or both, with respect to the presence of used and useful materials or equipment that are nonstandard, including, but not limited to, inventory requirements, specialized equipment requirements, or specialized personnel or training.
(4) Any specific requirements or costs, or both, with respect to the presence of exceptional construction conditions or operation and maintenance conditions.
(d) If the actual cost of the engineering evaluation is greater than the gas or electric corporation estimate, the park or community owner shall pay the gas or electric corporation the difference within 30 days of receipt of notice. If the actual cost of the engineering evaluation is less than the deposit, the gas or electric corporation shall pay the park or community owner the difference within 30 days. The content of the proposal shall become the property of the park or community owner.
(e) Within 90 days of receipt of the proposal for transfer of ownership, a park or community owner may do any of the following:
(1) Present objections to the gas or electric corporation in writing for resolution and may require mediation of the commission if the parties are unable to resolve the objection.
(2) Decline to proceed, without prejudice to the right to present a new notice at any future date.
(3) Accept the proposal and contract with the gas or electric corporation for completion of the construction work and equipment replacement, if any, or the acquisition of the gas or electric system, or both.
(4) Accept the proposal and contract with an approved third party for completion of the construction work and equipment replacement, if any, in accordance with the applicable gas or electric corporation applicant installation rules.
(f) Any new facilities provided by the gas or electric corporation to extend distribution or service facilities from the existing gas or electric corporation system within the park to previously undeveloped locations shall be provided in accordance with line extension rules and service extension rules contained in gas or electric corporation tariffs filed with the commission, including any and all free extensions, allowances, and advances subject to refund.
(g) Upon completion of construction work and equipment replacement, if any, receipt of appropriate inspection approval from the gas or electric corporation and authorities having jurisdiction for the inspections, and completion of all financial transactions among the parties, the park or community owner shall transfer and the gas or electric corporation shall acquire ownership and operational responsibility for the gas or electric system.
(h) Upon receipt of the proposal described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), the park or community owner shall notify the park residents concerning the pendency of a transfer process request and the provisions of the transfer process law.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 424, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1997.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018