Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 3300

The Legislature finds and declares that in order to furnish the citizens of California with reliable, affordable electrical power, to ensure sufficient power reserves, to assure stability and rationality in California’s electricity market, to encourage energy efficiency and conservation as well as the use of renewable energy resources, and to protect the public health, welfare, and safety, the state needs to finance, purchase, lease, own, operate, acquire, or otherwise provide financial assistance for public and private facilities for the generation and transmission of electricity and for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and conservation programs.