A local publicly owned electric utility or a local publicly owned utility otherwise providing electrical service, shall review at the earliest practicable date its rates, tariffs, and rules to identify barriers to and determine the appropriate balance of costs and benefits of distributed energy resources in order to facilitate the installation of these resources in the interests of their customer-owners and the state, and shall hold at least one noticed public meeting to solicit public comment on the review and any recommended changes. However, notwithstanding any other provision of this article, such an entity has the sole authority to undertake such a review and to make modifications to its rates, tariffs, and rules as the governing body of that utility determines to be necessary.

(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 558, Sec. 11. Effective January 1, 2009.)