§ 63049.71

The following definitions contained in this section are in addition to the definitions contained in Section 63010 and together with the definitions contained in that section shall govern the construction of this article, unless the context requires otherwise:

(a) “Accelerator financing plan” or “financing plan” means proposed financing by the bank for a specific accelerator project identified pursuant to Section 12100.111. The accelerator financing plan shall be developed in consultation with the accelerator and approved by a majority of the bank’s board with conditions established by the accelerator, as described in Section 12100.111.

(b) “Accelerator party” means any entity named in subdivision (h) of Section 12100.110.

(c) “Accelerator program guidelines” or “program guidelines” means the standards, practices, and procedures adopted by the accelerator describing project eligibility and selection criteria, coordination of the accelerator parties, and transmission permitting facilitation by the accelerator. The bank shall provide input into the accelerator guidelines that identify potential requirements for how the bank will administer financing from the California Transmission Accelerator Revolving Fund. Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 shall not apply to any accelerator program guidelines adopted by the accelerator or the bank.

(d) “California Transmission Accelerator project” or “accelerator project” means any building, structure, equipment, infrastructure, or other improvement within this state, or financing the general needs, including working capital, of any participating party for operations or activities within this state that are consistent with, and intended to, develop transmission projects for the public benefit to further California’s clean energy goals and to reduce or offset ratepayer costs, as described in Section 12100.111.

(e) “California Transmission Accelerator Revolving Fund,” “Accelerator Revolving Fund,” or “fund” means any revolving fund by that name created under, and administered pursuant to, this article to provide financial assistance for eligible transmission projects.

(f) “California Transmission Accelerator Program,” “accelerator program,” or “program,” means both of the following:

(1) The program authorized by this article to administer the California Transmission Accelerator Revolving Fund and to provide financial assistance for eligible transmission projects, to be administered by the bank pursuant to this article.

(2) Any guidelines adopted by the bank board consistent with the accelerator program.

(g) “Eligible transmission project” means a project as described in Section 12100.111, selected by the accelerator, and approved by the bank for financial assistance pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 63049.73.

(h) “Funded without return on equity,” as that term is used in Section 94510 of the Public Resources Code, means, solely for the pro rata portion of a project funded by the California Transmission Accelerator Revolving Fund provided by this article, that no return on equity shall be generated and distributed to shareholders.

(i) (1) “Participating party” has the same meaning as defined in Section 63010 and includes an eligible applicant, as that term is used in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 90000) of Division 50 of the Public Resources Code. However, an eligible applicant referred to as a “public utility” in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 90000) of Division 50 of the Public Resources Code shall have the same meaning as “electrical corporation,” as defined in Section 218 of the Public Utilities Code.

(2) For purposes of providing financial assistance to projects related to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 94500) of Division 50 of the Public Resources Code, the participating party shall be limited to eligible applicants as defined in Chapter 1 of Division 50 of the Public Resources Code.

(j) “Project sponsor” means an entity or group of entities that proposes to finance, construct, own, operate, and maintain a transmission project, or is selected by the Independent System Operator through its competitive solicitation process to finance, construct, own, operate, and maintain a transmission project.

(k) “Transmission Infrastructure Accelerator” or “accelerator” means the Transmission Infrastructure Accelerator established pursuant to Section 12100.110 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2026, Ch. 258, Sec. 4. (AB 192) Effective September 18, 2026.)