Public Utilities & Energy Infrastructure

Requires California to develop programs supporting zero-carbon energy resources that provide reliable power by 2026. Mandates utilities to propose clean energy projects that enhance grid reliability during multi-day stress periods. Establishes a process for utilities to deploy clean power resources in high-priority reliability areas. Requires state agencies to identify funding opportunities and remove barriers for zero-carbon power projects.

Requires more frequent reviews of state electricity transmission planning from every 5 years to every 3 years. Mandates coordination between utility regulators and grid operators to update transmission planning guidelines. Aims to improve California's renewable energy infrastructure development and reliability.

Requires state agencies to evaluate electricity programs that may be unnecessarily increasing consumer rates. Mandates detailed reports to the Legislature by July 1, 2025 on program costs and benefits. Authorizes agencies to recommend eliminating ineffective programs and returning unused funds to ratepayers. Takes effect immediately to address California's electricity rates that are double the national average.

Establishes new safety standards for hydrogen pipelines to protect residents and the environment. Requires pipeline owners to implement continuous monitoring systems to detect leaks and anomalies. Mandates annual compliance reports from pipeline owners to the Public Utilities Commission by December 31. Sets a January 1, 2028 deadline for the Public Utilities Commission to implement safety standards.

Establishes a new Senior Counselor position to coordinate California's clean energy supply chain development by 2026. Creates working groups to develop strategies for expanding battery, wind power, and heat pump industries in California. Requires multiple state agencies to collaborate on building integrated clean energy manufacturing facilities. Establishes a new state fund to support clean energy supply chain and industrial development projects.

Establishes a new monitoring system for pipelines that deliver crude oil to California refineries. Requires pipeline operators to report flow levels monthly starting March 2027. Mandates operators to notify state officials within 24 hours if pipeline flows drop to critical levels. Restricts the use of collected pipeline data solely for assessing potential supply disruptions.

Establishes a new program providing $20 monthly internet subsidies for low-income California households. Requires internet providers to offer qualifying plans for no more than $10 per month to eligible households. Creates a dedicated state fund to support affordable home internet access through telephone line fees. Mandates the Public Utilities Commission to implement the program by July 2027.

Makes technical changes to provisions governing the Public Utilities Commission's quorum requirements.

Authorizes the Energy Commission to establish rating standards for solar, energy storage, and EV charging equipment. Sets a state goal to install 3,000 megawatts of solar energy capacity across California. Requires solar systems to be installed on 50 percent of new homes within 13 years. Mandates 30-day public notice before adopting new equipment guidelines.

Makes technical changes to provisions governing the Independent System Operator's grid management duties.

Requires California schools to submit annual HVAC system inventories to the State Department of Education. Mandates HVAC systems meet minimum ventilation rates unless existing systems cannot safely comply. Requires installation of MERV-13 or highest feasible air filters in school HVAC systems. Directs state agencies to develop mandatory classroom carbon dioxide monitoring standards.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to seek input from affected parties before determining proceeding scope. Mandates documentation of stakeholder outreach efforts in initial scoping memos. Removes outdated requirements for utility regulatory outreach studies that expired in 2020.

Expands electric vehicle charging station monitoring requirements to include stations funded by legal settlements. Requires development of new uptime standards for charging stations installed between 2018 and 2024 by January 2027. Establishes penalties up to $2,500 per violation for charging stations that fail to meet availability standards. Mandates biennial assessments of charging station reliability across different income communities starting 2025.

Requires public utilities to automatically enroll customers in service outage alert systems. Allows customers to opt out of non-emergency alerts while maintaining mandatory safety notifications. Mandates utilities to provide contact preference updates through email or phone. Requires utilities to include instructions for updating contact methods on customer bills.

Requires utilities to maximize grid capacity by using surplus interconnection points for renewable energy projects. Mandates the Independent System Operator to integrate surplus interconnections into long-term transmission planning. Requires load-serving entities to prioritize renewable energy development when allocating available grid capacity. Directs utilities to evaluate surplus interconnection options in their mandatory resource planning processes.

Requires utility companies to connect affordable housing projects to the electrical grid within 60 days of completion. Delays utility rate increases if companies fail to meet connection deadlines for affordable housing. Mandates streamlined review by the Public Utilities Commission for delayed housing connections. Expires on January 1, 2029 unless renewed by the legislature.

Expands net energy metering to include electricity generated from train regenerative braking systems. Requires utilities to provide billing credits for electricity exported from electric train braking. Mandates utilities to install and maintain specialized metering systems at their own cost. Designates the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board as an eligible customer-generator.

Establishes six electrical modernization zones to prioritize infrastructure upgrades in underserved areas. Authorizes utilities to manage microgrids and collect fixed charges from customers in these zones. Requires state agencies to prioritize load growth projects in designated modernization zones. Mandates two zones be located in the High Desert area and Altadena, Los Angeles County.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to report annually instead of every two years on energy efficiency programs. Mandates reporting on ratepayer-funded utility programs that overlap with other state agency initiatives. Reports must identify similar programs across multiple state energy and transportation agencies.

Strengthens privacy protections for low-income phone service program participants by restricting data sharing. Prohibits sharing applicant information with government agencies without a court order. Makes providing Social Security Numbers optional for program participation. Allows use of anonymized data for program analysis and reporting purposes.

Requires the state energy commission to design a new system for customers to generate electricity at their properties. Mandates increased transparency in how departing load charges are calculated and applied to customers. Establishes a stakeholder input process including utilities and consumer advocacy groups through 2031. Requires submission of recommendations to the Legislature by December 2027.

Abolishes California's Power Exchange to restructure the state electricity market for increased competition. Establishes a five-member Electricity Oversight Board to supervise the Independent System Operator. Mandates a 20% rate reduction for residential and small commercial customers by April 2002. Requires utilities to recover transition costs through nonbypassable charges without increasing customer rates.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to evaluate and improve utility bill transparency by June 2026. Mandates clear itemization of all charges on gas and electric bills including taxes and program fees. Authorizes the use of digital communication channels like email and mobile apps for utility billing.

Requires development of fire safety measures for utility-grade lithium-ion battery storage facilities. Establishes safety protocols to protect emergency personnel responding to battery facility fires. Mandates battery facility operators to share incident information with emergency managers.

Establishes new state programs to help industrial facilities reduce emissions and improve energy storage. Requires funded projects to create high-road jobs and include community benefit agreements. Prioritizes projects in under-resourced communities that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases. Expands the state infrastructure bank's ability to finance industrial heat pump and thermal storage projects.