SB 1295: Electrical corporations: distributed energy storage systems.

Official summary

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

Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to determine appropriate targets, if any, for each load-serving entity, as defined, to procure viable and cost-effective energy storage systems to be achieved by December 31, 2020. Existing law requires the commission to direct the state’s 3 largest electrical corporations to file applications for programs and investments to accelerate widespread deployment of distributed energy storage systems.

This bill would require an electrical corporation, as part of the distribution planning process, to evaluate whether distributed energy storage systems can meet the identified reliability or capacity need, as provided. The bill would require an electrical corporation, if it determines that a third-party alternative may be feasible, to conduct a competitive solicitation or other transparent process to evaluate third-party solutions.

Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.

Because the provisions of this bill would be part of the act, and a violation of a commission action implementing the bill’s requirements would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

“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. August 13, 2026August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2. August 5, 2026August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
3. June 29, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. June 25, 2026From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 1.) (June 24).
5. June 4, 2026Referred to Com. on U. & E.
6. May 27, 2026In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
7. May 27, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 34. Noes 5. Page 4494.) Ordered to the Assembly.
8. May 14, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. May 14, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 1. Page 4272.) (May 14).
10. May 12, 2026Set for hearing May 14.
11. May 11, 2026May 11 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
12. May 4, 2026Set for hearing May 11.