SB 24: Public utilities: review of accounts: electrical and gas corporations: rates: political influence activities.

Official summary

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

Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to fix the rates and charges for public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations, and requires those rates and charges to be just and reasonable. Under existing law, a regulated public utility is prohibited from using ratepayer funds for advocacy-related activities that are political or do not otherwise benefit ratepayers.

This bill would prohibit, except as provided, each electrical corporation or gas corporation from recording to accounts that contain expenses that the electrical corporation or gas corporation recovers from ratepayers, or otherwise recovering from ratepayers, direct or indirect costs of opposing the municipalization of electrical or gas service, as specified. The bill would require the commission to monitor and investigate compliance and noncompliance with the prohibition.

Existing law authorizes the commission, each commissioner, and each officer and person employed by the commission to inspect the accounts, books, papers, and documents of any public utility.

This bill would specify that the Public Advocate’s Office of the Public Utilities Commission has the same authority to discover information and review the accounts of a public utility as the commission.

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

Because the above-described provisions 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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 5

“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. March 2, 2026Veto sustained.
2. March 2, 2026Stricken from file.
3. October 11, 2025In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
4. October 11, 2025Vetoed by the Governor.
5. September 23, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
6. September 12, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 9. Page 2965.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
7. September 12, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
8. September 11, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 46. Noes 9. Page 3282.) Ordered to the Senate.
9. September 5, 2025Ordered to third reading.
10. September 5, 2025Read third time and amended.
11. September 5, 2025Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended.
12. September 3, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.