(a) A qualifying water utility for which a financing order has been issued shall cause the proceeds of any water rate relief bonds issued pursuant to a financing order to be placed in a separate account. A qualifying water utility may use the proceeds of the issuance of water rate relief bonds for paying water supply costs and financing costs and for no other purpose.
(b) A financing order may require the qualifying utility to file with the commission a periodic report showing the receipt and disbursement of proceeds of water rate relief bonds. A financing order may authorize the staff of the commission to review and audit the books and records of the qualifying water utility relating to the receipt and disbursement of proceeds of water rate relief bonds. The provisions of this subdivision shall not be construed to limit the authority of the commission to investigate the practices of the qualifying utility or to audit the books and records of the qualifying water utility.
(c) A qualifying water utility for which a financing order has been issued shall annually provide to its customers a concise explanation of the water supply charges approved in a financing order, as modified by subsequent issuances of water rate relief bonds authorized under a financing order, if any, and by application of the true-up adjustment mechanism as provided in the financing order. These explanations shall be made after the annual true-up adjustment pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 849.1 and prior to, or simultaneous with, the effective date of the adjustment, and may be made by bill inserts, Internet Web site information, or other appropriate means. If water rate relief bonds are issued by a public financing entity, the public financing entity, or its trustee or representative, shall provide the information to the qualifying water utility as reasonably requested in order to comply with its obligations under this section.
(d) The failure of a qualifying water utility to apply the proceeds of water rate relief bonds in a reasonable, prudent, and appropriate manner or otherwise comply with any provision of this section shall not invalidate, impair, or affect any financing order, water supply property, water supply charges, or water rate relief bonds.
(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 482, Sec. 6. (SB 936) Effective January 1, 2015.)