Pub. Util. Code, § 2826

(a) The commission shall establish requirements for the administration of power purchase contracts between electrical corporations and private energy producers. For any project which has not received all regulatory permits at the time of the commission’s review of a proposed project deferral agreement, the commission shall, at a minimum, apply both of the following requirements:

(1) Prohibit payments by an electrical corporation to a private energy producer to defer the construction of a private energy project unless the private energy producer agrees to repay all deferral payments charged to ratepayers in the event the project is not constructed and operating by the time the deferral period expires.

(2) Require the private energy producer to provide adequate security to ensure repayment of those ratepayer charges.

(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a power purchase contract between an electrical corporation and a private energy producer which is a major customer of the electrical corporation, if the contract is negotiated pursuant to procedures prescribed by the commission and for the purpose of retaining that customer.