California Code, Public Utilities Code - PUC § 1214

The commission shall also make its order designating the party or parties to the proceeding who shall pay the just compensation so fixed, or any portion thereof, the amounts in which it shall be paid, the times at which it shall be paid, the property or interest therein for which it shall be paid, and the owners and claimants of such property or interest to whom it shall be paid. The commission may prescribe any other terms or conditions with reference to the payment of such compensation as the commission deems proper, including a provision that the money due be paid to the commission to be distributed to the parties entitled thereto.

The party or parties whom the commission designates to pay such compensation or any part thereof are thereupon liable therefor, and may be sued in any court of competent jurisdiction by the party or parties entitled to such compensation as provided in the commission's order. In cases in which the order of the commission authorizing any work to be done under the provisions of this chapter is permissive in character and not mandatory, the commission may prescribe the time within which the party receiving such permission shall elect to proceed and notify the commission thereof, and only in the event such party elects to proceed and so notifies the commission shall any liability arise to pay the compensation or any part thereof under the provisions of this section. When any political subdivision of the State is designated by the commission to pay such compensation or any portion thereof it shall be collectible in the manner provided in Section 1203 for the collection of expenses apportioned by the commission to political subdivisions of the State.