IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA: ‘ The question before us is whether the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC or Commission), which is empowered to regulate the rates and charges of public utilities, had the authority to review the amount of the agency’s fee. We conclude that the PUC did not have such authority.’

ABSTRACT: IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA, MONTEREY PENINSULA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, Petitioner, v. PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, Respondent; CALIFORNIA-AMERICAN WATER CO., Real Party in Interest, the Court ruled that the PUC did not have “the authority to review the amount of the agency’s fee.” “Petitioner Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, a public agency, imposed a fee on a public utility’s customers for work it had undertaken to mitigate environmental damage caused by the utility. The agency’s fee was charged as a line item on the utility’s bill and was collected by the utility on behalf of the agency. The question before us is whether the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC or Commission), which is empowered to regulate the rates and charges of public utilities, had the authority to review the amount of the agency’s fee. We conclude that the PUC did not have such authority.” The Opinion document copy is embedded.

S208838 Opinion

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA
MONTEREY PENINSULA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, Petitioner, v. PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, Respondent;
CALIFORNIA-AMERICAN WATER CO., Real Party in Interest.
S208838
Cal.P.U.C. Decision Nos. 11-03-035 and 13-01-040

REFERENCE:
California Supreme Court clears way for user fee on Cal Am bills

By Jim Johnson, Monterey Herald

Posted: 01/25/16, 7:38 PM PST