Cal. Water Code - WAT § 80500. Section 80500.
Nothing in this division shall be construed to reduce or modify an electrical corporation’s obligation to serve. The commission shall issue orders it determines are necessary to carry out this section.
CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [80500. - 80510.]
Cal. Water Code - WAT 1.
in effectCal. Water Code - WAT § 80502. Section 80502.
(a)
The development and operation of a program as provided in this division is in all respects for the welfare and the benefit of the people of the state, to protect the public peace, health, and safety, and constitutes an essential governmental purpose.
(b)
This division shall be liberally construed in a manner so as to effectuate its purposes and objectives.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 80504. Section 80504.
(a)
The powers and responsibilities of the department established pursuant to this division are separate from, and not governed by, the provisions relating to the State Water Resources Development System.
(b)
The Department of Water Resources Charge Fund established in Section 80550 and the moneys in that fund are separate and distinct from any other fund and moneys administered by the department.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 80506. Section 80506.
As used in this division, unless the context otherwise requires, all of the following terms have the following meanings:
(a)
“Account” means the Continuation Account created pursuant to Section 3298 of the Public Utilities Code. This subdivision shall become operative upon all large electrical corporations electing to participate in the account pursuant to Section 3299 of the Public Utilities Code.
(b)
“Administrator” has the same meaning as defined in Section 3280 of the Public Utilities Code.
(c)
“Bonds” means bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued solely for purposes of supporting the Wildfire Fund or the account and other related expenses incurred by the department pursuant to this division, or for reimbursing expenditures from the fund or the Wildfire Fund
or the account for those purposes; repaying to the Surplus Money Investment Fund any loans made to the Wildfire Fund; establishing or maintaining reserves in connection with the bonds; costs of issuance of bonds or incidental to their payment or security; capitalized interest; or renewing or refunding any bonds.
(d)
“Commission” means the Public Utilities Commission.
(e)
“Electrical corporation” means a large electrical corporation, as defined in Section 3280 of the Public Utilities Code, that participates in the Wildfire Fund or the account, as appropriate.
(f)
“Fund” means the Department of Water Resources Charge Fund established by Section 80550.
(g)
“Wildfire Fund” has the same meaning as defined in Section 3280 of the Public Utilities Code.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 80508. Section 80508.
(a)
The department may prescribe, adopt, and enforce emergency regulations relating to the administration and enforcement of this division. Any emergency regulations prescribed, adopted, or enforced pursuant to this division shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and, for purposes of that chapter, including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption of such regulations is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare.
(b)
The provisions of the Government Code and Public Contract Code applicable to state
contracts, including, but not limited to, advertising and competitive bidding requirements and prompt payment requirements, apply to contracts entered into under this division, unless the department determines that application of any of those provisions to contracts entered into under this division is detrimental to accomplishing the purposes of this division.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 80510. Section 80510.
All state agencies and other official state organizations, and all persons connected with those agencies and organizations, shall, at the request of the department, give the department assistance or other cooperation in carrying out the purposes of this division.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026