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HomePublic Utilities CodeDiv. 1Pt. 1Ch. 4Art. 5§ 829 Public Utility Regulation Exemptions

§ 829 Public Utility Regulation Exemptions

Public Utilities Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 829 Public Utility Regulation Exemptions

Key Takeaways

  • •This law mostly applies to companies that provide services like electricity, gas, or phone service to the public.
  • •Some phone companies don’t have to follow these rules if they don’t use a pricing system that sets a maximum price for their services.
  • •The government can decide to make a phone company follow these rules if it’s good for the public.
  • •The government can also let some companies off the hook if following the rules isn’t necessary for the public.

Example

A phone company wants to charge customers whatever it wants for calls and data.

If the company doesn’t have a rule that says the highest price it can charge, it might not have to follow all the other rules in this law. But if the government thinks it’s unfair to customers, it can make the company follow the rules anyway.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 829 Public Utility Regulation Exemptions

(a) This article shall not apply to any person or corporation which transacts no business subject to regulation under this part, except performing services or delivering commodities for or to public utilities or municipal or other public corporations primarily for resale or use in serving the public or any portion thereof. This article shall apply to any public utility if the commission finds, in a proceeding to which the public utility is or may become a party, that the application of this article is required by the public interest. (b) (1) Except for Section 828, a telephone corporation that is not regulated under a rate-of-return regulatory structure is exempt from this article. This subdivision does not exempt a telephone corporation that is also an electrical corporation or a gas corporation, unless the commission determines the telephone corporation is exempt pursuant to subdivision (c). As used in this subdivision, a “rate-of-return regulatory structure” means a system under which the rates and charges of the telephone corporation are limited by a maximum permissible price that may be charged for a specific service. Telephone corporations regulated by a framework under which they may exercise pricing flexibility for all or most of the services offered are not regulated under a rate-of-return regulatory structure. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the commission may impose any requirement of this article on a telephone corporation if the commission finds, in a proceeding in which the telephone corporation is or may become a party, that the application of any provision of this article is required by the public interest. (c) The commission may from time to time by order or rule, and subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed therein, exempt any public utility or class of public utility from this article if it finds that the application thereof to such public utility or class of public utility is not necessary in the public interest. (Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 239, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2008.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

corporationutilityrate-of-return regulatory structureregulationcommissionportofferapplication

Related Statutes

  • § 701.6 Mobilehome Energy Efficiency Programs
  • § 890 Natural Gas Surcharge Funding
  • § 532 Public Utility Rate Compliance
  • § 4354 Mobilehome Park Distribution Reports
  • § 709.5 Telecom Market Competition Deadline

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Public Utilities Code. Section 829.
View Official Source