AB 1273: Public utilities: ratesetting proceedings: local publicly owned electric utilities: California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires all charges demanded or received by a public utility for a product or commodity furnished or to be furnished or a service rendered or to be rendered to be just and reasonable. Existing law, except as provided, prohibits a public utility from changing a rate unless there is a showing before the PUC and a finding by the PUC that the new rate is justified. Existing law requires the PUC to publish and maintain on its internet website particular documents regarding the PUC’s agendas, actions, decisions, resolutions, rules, and other information.

This bill would prohibit the PUC from placing the consideration of a decision in a ratesetting proceeding that would result in an increase in rates to customers of an electrical corporation that has a revenue requirement that exceeds $1,000,000,000 on its consent agenda. The bill would, except as provided, require the PUC to provide, at a meeting to vote on a decision of a ratesetting proceeding that increases the rates of an electrical corporation’s customers by more than 5%, before its vote on the decision, a public comment period of at least 30 minutes on the decision.

Under existing law, the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program requires retail sellers and local publicly owned electric utilities to procure a minimum quantity of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources during certain compliance periods up to December 31, 2030. Existing law provides that a local publicly owned electric utility is not required to procure a certain amount of eligible renewable energy resources if, during a year within those compliance periods, the local publicly owned electric utility receives more than 40% of its retail sales from large hydroelectric generation under an ownership agreement or contract in effect as of January 1, 2018. Existing law authorizes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to establish appropriate multiyear compliance periods for local publicly owned electric utilities beyond December 31, 2030.

This bill would provide that the provision related to the procurement of eligible renewable energy resources by local publicly owned electric utilities also applies to the compliance periods established by the Energy Commission.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. January 22, 2026Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
2. October 1, 2025Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
3. October 1, 2025Vetoed by Governor.
4. September 24, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
5. September 13, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 3508.).
6. September 13, 2025Joint Rules 61(a)(14) and 51(a)(4) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3413.)
7. September 12, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
8. September 12, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2993.).
9. September 8, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. September 4, 2025Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
11. August 29, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
12. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).