California court rejects electricity regulation initiative News
California court rejects electricity regulation initiative

[JURIST] California's Third District Court of Appeal [official website] ruled late Friday that Proposition 80 [PDF], a ballot initiative that would expand the power of the California Public Utilities Commission [official website], violated the state constitution and struck it from the November ballot. Because Article 12 {text] of the California Constitution gives plenary power to the Legislature to control PUC activity, the court held, a ballot initiative aimed at a statutory revision would violate the Constitution on its face. Both sides have promised an appeal. This was the second referendum rejected by a California court this week; the Superior Court rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Proposition 77 on redistricting [JURIST report] Thursday. AP has more. The University of California has in-depth coverage of energy policy in California.