SB 636: Electrical or gas corporations: deferment of payments: hardship.

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 with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law prohibits an electrical or gas corporation from disconnecting service for nonpayment by a residential customer receiving a medical baseline allowance, financially unable to pay for service within the normal payment period, willing to enter into an amortization agreement with the corporation with respect to all charges that the customer is unable to pay, and meets certain other requirements.

This bill would prohibit an electrical or gas corporation from disconnecting service of a customer for 3 months, if the customer meets certain requirements, as provided. The bill would require the corporation to grant that customer a 3-month deferment for any and all payments due from the date that the deferment is granted. Upon the expiration of the deferment period, the bill would require the customer to enroll in the electrical or gas corporation’s arrearage management program or be enrolled in an available payment plan for which the customer is eligible, if the customer is not eligible for the arrearage management plan, for any and all debts on the customer’s account. The bill would prohibit a customer who participates in the payment deferral from being eligible for a subsequent 3-month payment deferral within 18 months of their participation in the payment deferral. The bill would authorize the commission to adopt rules to implement these provisions.

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

Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act, a violation of which, or a violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission implementing those provisions, would be a crime, the 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 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. February 2, 2026Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2. May 23, 2025May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
3. May 16, 2025Set for hearing May 23.
4. April 28, 2025April 28 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
5. April 17, 2025Set for hearing April 28.
6. April 10, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7. April 9, 2025From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 3. Page 681.) (April 7).
8. March 24, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.
9. March 24, 2025Set for hearing April 7.
10. March 5, 2025Referred to Com. on E., U & C.
11. February 21, 2025From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
12. February 20, 2025Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.