AB 99: Electrical corporations: rates.
This bill aims to regulate electricity rates by prohibiting electrical corporations from proposing rate increases above the rate of inflation, except in specific circumstances. The rate of inflation is defined as the systemwide average for any general rate case cycle, and the commission may approve a rate increase above the rate of inflation if it is directly related to safety enhancements, modernization, or higher commodity or fuel costs. The bill also ensures that violations of the Public Utilities Act are considered crimes, and that the state is not required to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the bill.
| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| May. 23, 2025 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Apr. 30, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. |
| Apr. 23, 2025 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| Amended IN Assembly March 28, 2025 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Ta |
January 08, 2025 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 748.3 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:748.3.
(a) An electrical corporation shall not propose a rate increase above the rate of inflation, as a systemwide average, for any general rate case cycle.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an electrical corporation may propose a rate increase above the rate of inflation subject to approval by a majority of the electrical corporation’s voting customers through an election conducted in accordance with all of the following:
(1)The electrical corporation shall provide each customer with one ballot.
(2)The electrical corporation shall provide each customer with information regarding the proposed rate increase.
(3)The commission may set additional procedures and rules for the election.
(4)The cost of conducting an election shall be borne exclusively by the shareholders of the electrical corporation.
(5)The electrical corporation may propose as many rate plans as necessary until one receives the support of a majority of voting customers.
(6)The commission shall determine an interim rate plan, not to exceed the rate of inflation, until an electrical corporation’s proposed rate plan is approved.
(c)The commission shall not approve or modify a request to increase rates above the rate of inflation without prior approval by the electrical corporation’s customers based on the results of an election conducted pursuant to subdivision (b).
(d)
SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.