08-07-2015 BPU RPT 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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W A T E R V" RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES P U B L I C U T I L I T I F$ Board Memorandum BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: AUGUST 7, 2015 ITEM NO: 19 File ID - 15 -2467 - D SUBJECT: 2015 MID -YEAR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ISSUE: The issue before the Board of Public Utilities is to receive and file an update on the 2015 legislative year at the federal and state levels. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities receive an update on the 2015 legislative year at the federal and state levels. BACKGROUND: Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) participates in legislative conversations and advocacy on relevant policy issues alongside the legislative team (lobbyists at the state and federal level), the city's legislative team, Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), and various trade associations including but not limited to the California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) and Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA). All of the legislative work RPU participates in is in accordance with the City's approved legislative platform. RPU uses the legislative platform as a lens to analyze legislation and recommend positions to support, oppose or watch. Key components of the platform include: • Protecting reliable, affordable energy and water delivery to the city • Supporting efforts to maintain local control • Protecting ratepayers State 2,346 total bills introduced this year 1,541 Bills introduced in the Assembly 297 bills that reference water 805 Bills introduced in the Senate J 170 bills that reference energy Legislation RPU tracks these bills and ranks them in terms of priority to the Utility and the City.