California Online Voter Guide

12th Edition, November 2005 Special Election

Proposition 80: Electric Service Providers. Regulation. Initiative Statute. Failed

Summary

Subjects electric service providers, as defined, to control and regulation by California Public Utilities Commission. Imposes restrictions on electricity customers’ ability to switch from private utilities to other electric providers. Provides that registration by electric service providers with Commission constitutes providers’ consent to regulation. Requires all retail electric sellers, instead of just private utilities, to increase renewable energy resource procurement by at least 1% each year, with 20% of retail sales procured from renewable energy by 2010, instead of current requirement of 2017. Imposes duties on Commission, Legislature and electrical providers. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Annual state costs of up to $4 million for regulatory activities of the California Public Utilities Commission. These costs would be fully offset by fee revenues. Unknown impact on state and local costs and revenues, as the measure’s impact on retail electricity rates is uncertain. Full Text of Proposition (PDF)

Official Campaign Web Sites and Contact Information

Yes on Proposition 80
The Utility Reform Network
711 Van Ness Ave, Suite 350, San Francisco 94102
(415) 929-8876 or info@yesonproposition80.com
No on Proposition 80
Californians for Reliable Electricity
1717 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 551-2513

Who Signed the Ballot Arguments

Yes on Proposition 80:

Robert Finkelstein, Executive Director, The Utility Reform Network (TURN)
Richard Holober, Executive Director, Consumer Federation of California
Nan Brasmer, President, California Alliance of Retired Americans

No on Proposition 80:

Les Nelson, President, California Solar Energy Industries Association
Karl Gawell, Executive Director, Geothermal Energy Association
James Sweeney, Co-Director of the Energy, Natural Resources and the Environment Program at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research

Follow the Money

Detailed information about all contributors for and against Prop. 80 is available through Cal-Access, the Secretary of State's campaign finance website. For the most recent contributions, select a committee and click "Late and $5000+ Contributions Received".

Major contributors supporting Prop. 80 as of October 22 include the Alliance for a Better California of Sacramento, California State Employees Association Issues PAC of Sacramento, California Teachers Association/Issues PAC of Burlingame, and the California Correctional Peace Officers Association Independent Expenditure Committee of Sacramento.

Major contributors opposing Prop. 80 as of October 22 include the Constellation Energy Group, Inc. of Baltimore, MD, APS Energy Services, Inc. of Phoenix, AZ, Mirant Services, LLC of Atlanta, GA, and Strategic Energy, LLC of Pittsburg, PA.

News Stories about the Initiatives

CVF's News Stories section provides California voters with convenient access to news articles that give an overview of the potential impact of each initiative on the ballot.

For More Information, CVF Recommends...

The California Secretary of State publishes the Official Voter Information Guide with both a Quick Summary and Detailed Information about Proposition 80.

Other good nonpartisan resources include the League of Women Voters' brief Pro/Con Analysis and longer In-Depth Analysis, the McGeorge School of Law California Initiative Review, and the Easy Voter Guide.

Around the Capitol's Election Track featuring up-to-date campaign contribution data.

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