Inyo County Municipal Code Ch. 5.24 Utility Rates Charged by Nonregulated Entities

The purpose and intent of this chapter is to provide for an adequate administrative rule-making procedure to insure that proper public notice is given, and that public hearings are held, within the county, for any utility rate change by a nonregulated entity.

(Ord. 280 § 1, 1974)

"Adequate and proper notice"

means that the proposed rate change, and the times and places of the required public hearings, shall be published once in full, in a newspaper of general circulation, printed, published and circulated within the county, fifteen days prior to the first required public hearing; and that notification of the proposed rate change, and the times and places of the required public hearings, be placed in the monthly billing statement to customers of the given nonregulated entity, prior to the first required public hearing.

"Entity"

means any individual, firm, copartnership, joint venture, association, organization, political subdivision or any group or combination acting as a unit, but not to include a service area or subdivision thereof.

"Nonregulated entity"

means any municipal corporation, governmental component or agency, or subdivision thereof, other than the county or a service area, which is not subject to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission of the state of California.

"Public hearing"

means a meeting open to the public, preceded by adequate and proper notice, at which the concerned nonregulated entity shall present its proposed rate change and solicit public comment, which it shall consider in making its final decision on the proposed rate change.

"Service area"

means a board, commission, district or other governmental component or subdivision thereof, within the county, whose officers or membership consists of those individuals which are either elected by residents, or property owners, within the concerned area; or appointed by the board of supervisors of this county; or the board of supervisors of this county.

"Utility service"

means that quantity of water or electricity which is provided for compensation to members of the public within a given geographical area in the county.

(Ord. 280 § 1, 1975)

A. Any nonregulated entity which provides utility service in the county shall, prior to the enactment of any rate change, hold at least two public hearings, at intervals of at least thirty days, in the affected areas of the county, preceded by adequate and proper public notice, in order to solicit public comment and disseminate accurate information on the concerned rate change.

B. If said nonregulated entity fails to either provide adequate and proper public notice, or to hold either of the two required public hearings, the proposed rate change will be totally void and without force within the county, until the procedural requirements of this chapter are satisfied.

(Ord. 280 § 1, 1975)