SECTIONS 1-22

1.  This act shall be known as the Public Utilities Code.2.  The provisions of this code, insofar as they are substantiallythe same as existing statutory provisions relating to the samesubject matter, shall be construed as restatements and continuationsthereof, and not as new enactments.4.  No action or proceeding commenced before this code takes effect,and no right accrued, is affected by this code, but all procedurethereafter taken therein shall conform to the provisions of this codeso far as possible.5.  Unless the provision or the context otherwise requires, thedefinitions, rules of construction, and other general provisionscontained in Sections 1 to 22, inclusive, and the definitions in thePublic Utilities Act (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 201) of Part1 of Division 1), shall govern the construction of this code.6.  Division, part, chapter, article, and section headings do not inany manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions ofthis code.7.  Whenever a power is granted to, or a duty is imposed upon, apublic officer, the power may be exercised or the duty may beperformed by a deputy of the officer or by a person authorized,pursuant to law, by the officer, unless this code expressly providesotherwise.8.  Writing includes any form of recorded message capable ofcomprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report,statement, petition, or record is required or authorized by thiscode, it shall be made in writing in the English language unless itis expressly provided otherwise. Wherever any notice or other communication is required by thiscode to be mailed by registered mail by or to any person orcorporation, the mailing of such notice or other communication bycertified mail shall be deemed to be a sufficient compliance with therequirements of law.9.  Whenever reference is made to any portion of this code or of anyother law of this State, the reference applies to all amendments andadditions heretofore or hereafter made.10.  "Section" means a section of this code unless some otherstatute is specifically mentioned. "Subdivision" means a subdivisionof the section in which that term occurs unless some other section isexpressly mentioned.11.  The present tense includes the past and future tenses, and thefuture, the present.12.  The masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter.13.  The singular number includes the plural, and the plural, thesingular.14.  "Shall" is mandatory and "may" is permissive.15.  "Oath" includes affirmation.16.  "Signature" or "subscription" includes mark when the signer orsubscriber cannot write, such signer's or subscriber's name beingwritten near the mark by a witness who writes his own name near thesigner's or subscriber's name; but a signature or subscription bymark can be acknowledged or can serve as a signature or subscriptionto a sworn statement only when two witnesses so sign their own namesthereto.17.  "State" means the State of California, unless applied to thedifferent parts of the United States. In the latter case, it includesthe District of Columbia and the territories.18.  "County" includes city and county.19.  "City" includes city and county and "incorporated town," butdoes not include "unincorporated town" or "village."20.  (a) "Commission" means the Public Utilities Commission createdby Section 1 of Article XII of the California Constitution, and"commissioner" means a member of the commission. (b) "Energy Commission" means the State Energy ResourcesConservation and Development Commission.20.5.  For the purposes of this code, "recycled water" or "reclaimedwater" has the same meaning as recycled water as defined insubdivision (n) of Section 13050 of the Water Code.21.  If any provision of this code, or the application thereof toany person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of thecode, or the application of such provision to other persons orcircumstances, shall not be affected thereby.22.  No corporation formed or existing before 12 o'clock m. ofJanuary 1, 1873, is affected by the provisions of Division 4 of thiscode unless the corporation has elected to continue its existenceunder the provisions of the Civil Code repealed by this code, orelects to continue its existence under this code, but the laws underwhich such corporations were formed and exist continue to apply toall such corporations, notwithstanding their repeal by this code orprior to its enactment.