Electrical corporations: connections: affordable housing projects.

Assembly Member Ortega's legislation addressing electrical utility connections for affordable housing projects establishes new timelines and enforcement mechanisms for connecting these developments to the power grid. The measure, co-authored by Senator Valladares, requires electrical corporations to complete grid connections for ready affordable housing projects within 60 days, except when health and safety concerns exist.

The bill defines qualifying affordable housing projects as those receiving tax subsidies through the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee. When projects meet all inspection and permitting requirements but remain unconnected beyond the 60-day window, the Public Utilities Commission must expedite its review process. The measure also creates financial consequences for delayed connections - electrical corporations that exceed either the 60-day connection window or take more than 90 days to provide final contracts will face postponements of commission-approved rate increases. The length of these postponements matches the duration of the longest documented delay.

Under the bill's provisions, violations of these requirements constitute a crime under the Public Utilities Act. The authors note in their findings that in 2024, the Commission approved six Pacific Gas and Electric Company rate increases while numerous completed affordable housing units awaited electrical connections. The measure aims to address what the authors describe as a pattern of utility companies moving quickly on rate increases while housing projects face extended connection delays.