Amended IN Assembly April 22, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1295Introduced by Assembly Member PattersonFebruary 21, 2025 An act to add Section 739.14 739.17 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to utilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1295, as amended, Patterson. Public utilities: billing statements: additional costs attributable to state requirements or programs. bills and notices: consolidation and transparency.Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires each electrical corporation and gas corporation to disclose on the billing statement of a residential customer certain information, including itemized components in the bill to identify state and local taxes, identification of delivery, generation, public purpose, and other charges, and the contact information for the commissions Consumer Affairs Branch.This bill would require each public utility to provide to its customers information on the additional costs that are attributable to state requirements or programs, including those imposed by statute, regulation, the commission, or the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. The bill would require this information to be provided quarterly on the customer billing statement in a visible area and in a similar size and font as the billing information.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 an order or decision of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime or expanding the application of a crime.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.This bill would require the commission, on or before June 1, 2026, to evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities, and to identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate and enhance billing transparency, including avenues that clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, as specified, and use the most cost-effective communications channels, as provided. The bill would authorize the commission to seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESNO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 739.17 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:739.17. (a) On or before June 1, 2026, the commission shall do both of the following:(1) Evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities.(2) Identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency, including, but not limited to, avenues that would do both of the following:(A) Clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, including, but not limited to, commodities, taxes, public purpose programs, and community choice aggregator charges.(B) Use the most cost-effective communications channels, which may include, but are not limited to, email, an online portal, or a mobile application.(b) The commission may seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.SECTION 1.Section 739.14 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:739.14.(a)Each public utility shall provide to its customers information on the additional costs that are attributable to state requirements or programs, including those imposed by statute, regulation, the commission, or the Energy Commission.(b)The information provided pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be provided quarterly on the customer billing statement in a visible area and in a similar size and font as the billing information.SEC. 2.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.
Amended IN Assembly April 22, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1295Introduced by Assembly Member PattersonFebruary 21, 2025 An act to add Section 739.14 739.17 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to utilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1295, as amended, Patterson. Public utilities: billing statements: additional costs attributable to state requirements or programs. bills and notices: consolidation and transparency.Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires each electrical corporation and gas corporation to disclose on the billing statement of a residential customer certain information, including itemized components in the bill to identify state and local taxes, identification of delivery, generation, public purpose, and other charges, and the contact information for the commissions Consumer Affairs Branch.This bill would require each public utility to provide to its customers information on the additional costs that are attributable to state requirements or programs, including those imposed by statute, regulation, the commission, or the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. The bill would require this information to be provided quarterly on the customer billing statement in a visible area and in a similar size and font as the billing information.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 an order or decision of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime or expanding the application of a crime.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.This bill would require the commission, on or before June 1, 2026, to evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities, and to identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate and enhance billing transparency, including avenues that clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, as specified, and use the most cost-effective communications channels, as provided. The bill would authorize the commission to seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESNO
Amended IN Assembly April 22, 2025
Amended IN Assembly April 22, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1295
Introduced by Assembly Member PattersonFebruary 21, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Patterson
February 21, 2025
An act to add Section 739.14 739.17 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to utilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1295, as amended, Patterson. Public utilities: billing statements: additional costs attributable to state requirements or programs. bills and notices: consolidation and transparency.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires each electrical corporation and gas corporation to disclose on the billing statement of a residential customer certain information, including itemized components in the bill to identify state and local taxes, identification of delivery, generation, public purpose, and other charges, and the contact information for the commissions Consumer Affairs Branch.This bill would require each public utility to provide to its customers information on the additional costs that are attributable to state requirements or programs, including those imposed by statute, regulation, the commission, or the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. The bill would require this information to be provided quarterly on the customer billing statement in a visible area and in a similar size and font as the billing information.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 an order or decision of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime or expanding the application of a crime.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.This bill would require the commission, on or before June 1, 2026, to evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities, and to identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate and enhance billing transparency, including avenues that clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, as specified, and use the most cost-effective communications channels, as provided. The bill would authorize the commission to seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires each electrical corporation and gas corporation to disclose on the billing statement of a residential customer certain information, including itemized components in the bill to identify state and local taxes, identification of delivery, generation, public purpose, and other charges, and the contact information for the commissions Consumer Affairs Branch.
This bill would require each public utility to provide to its customers information on the additional costs that are attributable to state requirements or programs, including those imposed by statute, regulation, the commission, or the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. The bill would require this information to be provided quarterly on the customer billing statement in a visible area and in a similar size and font as the billing information.
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 an order or decision of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime or expanding the application of a crime.
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.
This bill would require the commission, on or before June 1, 2026, to evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities, and to identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate and enhance billing transparency, including avenues that clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, as specified, and use the most cost-effective communications channels, as provided. The bill would authorize the commission to seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 739.17 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:739.17. (a) On or before June 1, 2026, the commission shall do both of the following:(1) Evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities.(2) Identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency, including, but not limited to, avenues that would do both of the following:(A) Clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, including, but not limited to, commodities, taxes, public purpose programs, and community choice aggregator charges.(B) Use the most cost-effective communications channels, which may include, but are not limited to, email, an online portal, or a mobile application.(b) The commission may seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.SECTION 1.Section 739.14 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:739.14.(a)Each public utility shall provide to its customers information on the additional costs that are attributable to state requirements or programs, including those imposed by statute, regulation, the commission, or the Energy Commission.(b)The information provided pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be provided quarterly on the customer billing statement in a visible area and in a similar size and font as the billing information.SEC. 2.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 739.17 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:739.17. (a) On or before June 1, 2026, the commission shall do both of the following:(1) Evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities.(2) Identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency, including, but not limited to, avenues that would do both of the following:(A) Clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, including, but not limited to, commodities, taxes, public purpose programs, and community choice aggregator charges.(B) Use the most cost-effective communications channels, which may include, but are not limited to, email, an online portal, or a mobile application.(b) The commission may seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.
SECTION 1. Section 739.17 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
739.17. (a) On or before June 1, 2026, the commission shall do both of the following:(1) Evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities.(2) Identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency, including, but not limited to, avenues that would do both of the following:(A) Clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, including, but not limited to, commodities, taxes, public purpose programs, and community choice aggregator charges.(B) Use the most cost-effective communications channels, which may include, but are not limited to, email, an online portal, or a mobile application.(b) The commission may seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.
739.17. (a) On or before June 1, 2026, the commission shall do both of the following:(1) Evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities.(2) Identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency, including, but not limited to, avenues that would do both of the following:(A) Clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, including, but not limited to, commodities, taxes, public purpose programs, and community choice aggregator charges.(B) Use the most cost-effective communications channels, which may include, but are not limited to, email, an online portal, or a mobile application.(b) The commission may seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.
739.17. (a) On or before June 1, 2026, the commission shall do both of the following:(1) Evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities.(2) Identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency, including, but not limited to, avenues that would do both of the following:(A) Clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, including, but not limited to, commodities, taxes, public purpose programs, and community choice aggregator charges.(B) Use the most cost-effective communications channels, which may include, but are not limited to, email, an online portal, or a mobile application.(b) The commission may seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.
739.17. (a) On or before June 1, 2026, the commission shall do both of the following:
###### 739.17.
(1) Evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities.
(2) Identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency, including, but not limited to, avenues that would do both of the following:
(A) Clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customers bill, including, but not limited to, commodities, taxes, public purpose programs, and community choice aggregator charges.
(B) Use the most cost-effective communications channels, which may include, but are not limited to, email, an online portal, or a mobile application.
(b) The commission may seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.
(a)Each public utility shall provide to its customers information on the additional costs that are attributable to state requirements or programs, including those imposed by statute, regulation, the commission, or the Energy Commission.
(b)The information provided pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be provided quarterly on the customer billing statement in a visible area and in a similar size and font as the billing information.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.