SB 842: Energy: firm zero-carbon resources.

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 authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires electrical corporations to submit information to the commission for various purposes, as provided.

This bill would require the commission, on or before December 31, 2026, to produce a report identifying opportunities and needs to provide for local and system reliability with firm zero-carbon resources over the short term, midterm, and long term, as provided. The bill would require the report to include, among other things, characterization of the resource attributes vital for local and system reliability and identification of barriers, including market barriers, to deploying firm zero-carbon resources to enhance local and system reliability.

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 provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of a commission action 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. August 29, 2025August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2. August 20, 2025August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
3. July 10, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. June 27, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
5. June 16, 2025Referred to Com. on U. & E.
6. June 5, 2025In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
7. June 4, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 10. Page 1520.) Ordered to the Assembly.
8. May 27, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. May 23, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
10. May 23, 2025From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1215.) (May 23).
11. May 20, 2025Set for hearing May 23.
12. May 19, 2025May 19 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.