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Inventory of the California State Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee Records
LP464
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Title: California State Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee Records
Dates: 2001-2002
Collection number: LP464
Creator:
Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee
Collection Size:
4.5 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee Records consist of 4.5 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual material
from 2001-2002. The records are organized into two record series: Bill Files, 2001-2002; and Hearing Files, 2001-2002. The
Assembly Committee on Energy Costs and Availability was created by House Resolution 1 during the 2001-2002 First Extraordinary
Session. The committee considered legislation related to the availability, supply, consumptions and use of energy in California,
along with the means to mediate the soaring energy prices. Additionally, the committee considered bills related to long-term
energy contracts, blackout management policies, repowering environmentally-efficient power plants, and air emission regulation
reform.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee Records, LP464:[folder number], California State
Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The State Archives received these records in accordance with California Government Code 9080(b) which requires legislative
committees to transfer their records to the State Archives when they are no longer needed by the committee.
The Assembly Committee on Energy Costs and Availability was a specialized committee that was created to manage the California
Energy Crises of the early 2000s.
In September 1996, the California Legislature passed energy deregulation legislation (AB1890, 1995-1996), which required the
transfer of operational utilities control to the California Independent System Operator (CA-ISO) and created incentives for
utility companies to sell existing power plants to private companies. CA-ISO, an independent, non-profit energy board, oversees
the operation of California's bulk electricity systems. Additionally, AB1890 created the California Power Exchange, a private
organization that set energy prices at auction. The energy deregulation caused an increase in energy prices during the late
1990s and early 2000s. By 1999, some Californians saw their energy bills triple. On June 14, 2000, California experienced
its largest blackout since World War II, affecting over 97,000 PG&E customers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The need for the committee arose by late 2001, as rolling black outs continued to plague California and the southwestern United
States, forcing power companies to the brink of bankruptcy and financially straining small businesses.
The Assembly Committee on Energy Costs and Availability was created by House Resolution 1 during the 2001-2002 First Extraordinary
Session. The purpose of the committee was to shape legislation and probe financial practices among utilities and generators.
The committee considered legislation related to the availability, supply, consumptions and use of energy in California, along
with the means to mediate the soaring energy prices. Additionally, the committee considered bills related to long-term energy
contracts, blackout management policies, repowering environmentally-efficient power plants, and air omission regulation reform.
Immediately, the committee considered and approved legislation to mitigate the energy crises. To alleviate pressure from PG&E
and Southern California Edison Electric, AB1X (2001-2002) authorized the Department of Water Resources with purchasing and
selling power of electricity. AB5X (2001-2002) replaced CA-ISO's stakeholder's board with governor appointees. The Assembly
Energy Costs and Availability Committee was only active during the 2001-2002 first and second extraordinary sessions. Starting
in the 2003-2004 session, the Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee oversaw legislation regarding the energy crises.
Roderick Wright (Dem) chaired the Assembly Committee on Energy Costs and Availability during its brief existence from 2001
to 2002.
The Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee Records consist of 4.5 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual material
from 2001-2002. The records are organized into two record series: Bill Files, 2001-2002; and Hearing Files, 2001-2002.
The Bill Files are the bulk of the collection and are a strong source of information regarding the California Energy Crises.
Within this series, recurring topics include: state oversight of electrical systems (AB6X, 2001-2002; AB28XX, 2001-2002);
electrical rate restructuring (SB43XX, 2001-2002; SB85XX, 2001-2002); electrical system restructuring (AB6X, 2001-2002); blackout
management policies (SB68XX, 2001-2002); emergency services policies during blackouts (AB18X, 2001-2002; AB69XX, 2001-2002
); energy efficiency programs (SB5X, 2001-2002; SB37X, 2001-2002); and long term energy purchasing contracts (AB1X, 2001-2002).
No further accruals are expected.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
California State Assembly Energy Costs and Availability Committee
Electric utilities - California
Electric power failures
Energy policy - California
Public utilities - California
Related Material at the California State Archives
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Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee Records
Energy, Resources, Conservation and Development Commission Records
Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee Records