Public utilities: service outages and updates: alerts.

Assembly Member Garcia's proposal to modernize utility communications would require California public utilities to automatically enroll customers in service outage alerts while preserving customer choice through opt-out options. The measure establishes a standardized approach to outage notifications, with automatic enrollment serving as the default setting for all utility customers.

Under the proposed framework, customers retain control over most notification preferences through an opt-out mechanism, though emergency and safety alerts would remain mandatory. The bill requires utilities to provide clear instructions on bills for updating contact preferences and mandates that customers be able to modify their contact information through both email and telephone channels.

The measure builds upon existing Public Utilities Commission oversight, incorporating these new notification requirements into the current regulatory structure where violations constitute criminal offenses. While the bill creates new compliance obligations for utilities, it explicitly states that no reimbursement to local agencies is required under California's constitutional provisions regarding state mandates.