(a)
Whenever a water corporation sells any real property that was at any time, but is no longer, necessary or useful in the performance of the water corporation’s duties to the public, the water corporation shall invest the net proceeds, if any, including interest at the rate that the commission prescribes for memorandum accounts, from the sale in water system infrastructure, plant, facilities, and properties that are necessary or useful in the performance of its duties to the public. For purposes of tracking the net proceeds and their investment, the water corporation shall maintain records necessary to document the investment of the net proceeds pursuant to this article. The amount of the net proceeds shall be a water corporation’s primary source of capital for investment in utility infrastructure, plant, facilities, and properties that are necessary or useful in the performance of the water corporation’s duties in providing water utility service to the public.
(b)
All water utility infrastructure, plant, facilities, and properties constructed or acquired by, and used and useful to, a water corporation by investment pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be included among the water corporation’s other utility property upon which the commission authorizes the water corporation the opportunity to earn a reasonable return.
(c)
This article shall apply to the investment of the net proceeds referred to in subdivision (a) for a period of 8 years from the end of the calendar year in which the water corporation receives the net proceeds. The balance of any net proceeds and interest thereon that is not invested after the eight-year period shall be allocated solely to ratepayers.
(d)
Upon application by a water corporation with 10,000 or fewer service connections, the commission may, after a hearing, by rule or order, exempt the water corporation from the requirements of this article.
(e)
The commission retains continuing authority to determine the used, useful, or necessary status of any and all infrastructure improvements and investments.