(a) A reclamation district specified in subdivision (d) may construct, maintain, and operate a plant for the generation of hydroelectric power, together with transmission lines for the conveyance thereof and with other facilities that may be necessary or appropriate for the construction, maintenance, and operation of that plant. Construction of the plant and transmission lines may be financed by the issuance of time warrants pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 53040) of Chapter 1 of Part 9 to pay the cost of construction of the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities, except that the board may, by resolution, provide for the payment of those time warrants solely from the proceeds derived from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant, in lieu of the assessment described in Section 53040, and may, in that event, pledge the plant, transmission lines, and related facilities and the revenues from the operation of the hydroelectric powerplant as the sole security for the payment of the time warrants.
(b) The hydroelectric powerplant, transmission lines, and related facilities constructed pursuant to this section may be leased for operation to, or the power generated may be sold to, a public utility or public agency engaged in the distribution, use, or sale of electricity, but shall not be offered for sale directly by the district to customers other than a public utility or public agency.
(c) Proceeds from the sale of electricity shall be utilized to retire any time warrants issued for construction of the facilities and otherwise for the powers and purposes for which the district was formed.
(d) This section applies only to Reclamation District No. 1004 acting in conjunction with the County of Colusa.
(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 308) by Stats. 2020, Ch. 371, Sec. 31. (SB 1473) Effective January 1, 2021. Section operative on January 1, 2026, by its own provisions.)