| 1 | 1 | | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 737Introduced by Assembly Member Quirk-SilvaFebruary 18, 2025 An act to amend Section 8376 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 737, as introduced, Quirk-Silva. Energy: building decarbonization: notice and recordation of a decarbonization charge. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission, or the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative, to require an energy supplier, defined as an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, community choice aggregator, or electrical cooperative, administering a decarbonization upgrade program or initiative, to record, no later than 30 days after funding a decarbonization upgrade, a notice of decarbonization charge, as defined, with the county recorder of the county where the property subject to the decarbonization charge is located, as specified. Existing law requires, among other things, an energy supplier, within 30 days of full cost recovery of the outstanding charges related to the recorded notice of decarbonization charge, to record a notice of the full cost recovery and removal of the decarbonization charge with the county recorder of the county where the property subject to the decarbonization charge is located.This bill would additionally add gas corporations to the definition of energy supplier for purposes of the above-described provisions.Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.Because a violation of a commission action implementing the above provisions 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.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 8376 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:8376. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Decarbonization charge means a charge that is added to the billing for service associated with the electrical meter, or other measuring device, under the control of an energy supplier located at the subscriber property where a decarbonization upgrade is located, and that is collected in order to pay for a decarbonization upgrade.(b) Decarbonization upgrade means all of the following:(1) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the demand for electricity from an energy supplier.(2) A change to a subscriber property that allows for storage of energy.(3) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the use of fossil fuels.(4) A change to a subscriber property that converts water, wind, or sunlight to usable electricity.(c) Energy supplier means either any of the following:(1) An entity that offers an electricity product for sale to retail consumers in California, including an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, and community choice aggregator.(2) Any private corporation or association organized for purposes of transmitting or distributing electricity exclusively to its stockholders or members at cost, including an electrical cooperative.(3) A gas corporation, as defined in Section 222.(d) Subscriber means a person or entity that purchases electricity or electrical grid services from an energy supplier and is billed for the electricity or electrical grid services by the energy supplier, either directly or by another entity on behalf of the energy supplier.(e) Subscriber property means residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other real property owned, leased, or licensed for occupancy by the subscriber.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution. |
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| 3 | 3 | | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 737Introduced by Assembly Member Quirk-SilvaFebruary 18, 2025 An act to amend Section 8376 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 737, as introduced, Quirk-Silva. Energy: building decarbonization: notice and recordation of a decarbonization charge. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission, or the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative, to require an energy supplier, defined as an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, community choice aggregator, or electrical cooperative, administering a decarbonization upgrade program or initiative, to record, no later than 30 days after funding a decarbonization upgrade, a notice of decarbonization charge, as defined, with the county recorder of the county where the property subject to the decarbonization charge is located, as specified. Existing law requires, among other things, an energy supplier, within 30 days of full cost recovery of the outstanding charges related to the recorded notice of decarbonization charge, to record a notice of the full cost recovery and removal of the decarbonization charge with the county recorder of the county where the property subject to the decarbonization charge is located.This bill would additionally add gas corporations to the definition of energy supplier for purposes of the above-described provisions.Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.Because a violation of a commission action implementing the above provisions 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.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES |
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| 9 | 9 | | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION |
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| 10 | 10 | | |
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| 11 | 11 | | Assembly Bill |
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| 13 | 13 | | No. 737 |
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| 15 | 15 | | Introduced by Assembly Member Quirk-SilvaFebruary 18, 2025 |
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| 16 | 16 | | |
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| 17 | 17 | | Introduced by Assembly Member Quirk-Silva |
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| 18 | 18 | | February 18, 2025 |
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| 19 | 19 | | |
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| 20 | 20 | | An act to amend Section 8376 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy. |
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| 21 | 21 | | |
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| 22 | 22 | | LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST |
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| 23 | 23 | | |
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| 24 | 24 | | ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST |
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| 25 | 25 | | |
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| 26 | 26 | | AB 737, as introduced, Quirk-Silva. Energy: building decarbonization: notice and recordation of a decarbonization charge. |
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| 27 | 27 | | |
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| 28 | 28 | | Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission, or the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative, to require an energy supplier, defined as an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, community choice aggregator, or electrical cooperative, administering a decarbonization upgrade program or initiative, to record, no later than 30 days after funding a decarbonization upgrade, a notice of decarbonization charge, as defined, with the county recorder of the county where the property subject to the decarbonization charge is located, as specified. Existing law requires, among other things, an energy supplier, within 30 days of full cost recovery of the outstanding charges related to the recorded notice of decarbonization charge, to record a notice of the full cost recovery and removal of the decarbonization charge with the county recorder of the county where the property subject to the decarbonization charge is located.This bill would additionally add gas corporations to the definition of energy supplier for purposes of the above-described provisions.Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.Because a violation of a commission action implementing the above provisions 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. |
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| 30 | 30 | | Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission, or the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative, to require an energy supplier, defined as an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, community choice aggregator, or electrical cooperative, administering a decarbonization upgrade program or initiative, to record, no later than 30 days after funding a decarbonization upgrade, a notice of decarbonization charge, as defined, with the county recorder of the county where the property subject to the decarbonization charge is located, as specified. Existing law requires, among other things, an energy supplier, within 30 days of full cost recovery of the outstanding charges related to the recorded notice of decarbonization charge, to record a notice of the full cost recovery and removal of the decarbonization charge with the county recorder of the county where the property subject to the decarbonization charge is located. |
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| 31 | 31 | | |
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| 32 | 32 | | This bill would additionally add gas corporations to the definition of energy supplier for purposes of the above-described provisions. |
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| 33 | 33 | | |
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| 34 | 34 | | Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. |
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| 35 | 35 | | |
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| 36 | 36 | | Because a violation of a commission action implementing the above provisions would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. |
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| 37 | 37 | | |
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| 38 | 38 | | 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. |
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| 39 | 39 | | |
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| 40 | 40 | | This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. |
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| 41 | 41 | | |
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| 42 | 42 | | ## Digest Key |
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| 43 | 43 | | |
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| 44 | 44 | | ## Bill Text |
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| 46 | 46 | | The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 8376 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:8376. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Decarbonization charge means a charge that is added to the billing for service associated with the electrical meter, or other measuring device, under the control of an energy supplier located at the subscriber property where a decarbonization upgrade is located, and that is collected in order to pay for a decarbonization upgrade.(b) Decarbonization upgrade means all of the following:(1) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the demand for electricity from an energy supplier.(2) A change to a subscriber property that allows for storage of energy.(3) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the use of fossil fuels.(4) A change to a subscriber property that converts water, wind, or sunlight to usable electricity.(c) Energy supplier means either any of the following:(1) An entity that offers an electricity product for sale to retail consumers in California, including an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, and community choice aggregator.(2) Any private corporation or association organized for purposes of transmitting or distributing electricity exclusively to its stockholders or members at cost, including an electrical cooperative.(3) A gas corporation, as defined in Section 222.(d) Subscriber means a person or entity that purchases electricity or electrical grid services from an energy supplier and is billed for the electricity or electrical grid services by the energy supplier, either directly or by another entity on behalf of the energy supplier.(e) Subscriber property means residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other real property owned, leased, or licensed for occupancy by the subscriber.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution. |
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| 48 | 48 | | The people of the State of California do enact as follows: |
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| 50 | 50 | | ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows: |
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| 52 | 52 | | SECTION 1. Section 8376 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:8376. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Decarbonization charge means a charge that is added to the billing for service associated with the electrical meter, or other measuring device, under the control of an energy supplier located at the subscriber property where a decarbonization upgrade is located, and that is collected in order to pay for a decarbonization upgrade.(b) Decarbonization upgrade means all of the following:(1) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the demand for electricity from an energy supplier.(2) A change to a subscriber property that allows for storage of energy.(3) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the use of fossil fuels.(4) A change to a subscriber property that converts water, wind, or sunlight to usable electricity.(c) Energy supplier means either any of the following:(1) An entity that offers an electricity product for sale to retail consumers in California, including an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, and community choice aggregator.(2) Any private corporation or association organized for purposes of transmitting or distributing electricity exclusively to its stockholders or members at cost, including an electrical cooperative.(3) A gas corporation, as defined in Section 222.(d) Subscriber means a person or entity that purchases electricity or electrical grid services from an energy supplier and is billed for the electricity or electrical grid services by the energy supplier, either directly or by another entity on behalf of the energy supplier.(e) Subscriber property means residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other real property owned, leased, or licensed for occupancy by the subscriber. |
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| 54 | 54 | | SECTION 1. Section 8376 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read: |
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| 56 | 56 | | ### SECTION 1. |
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| 58 | 58 | | 8376. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Decarbonization charge means a charge that is added to the billing for service associated with the electrical meter, or other measuring device, under the control of an energy supplier located at the subscriber property where a decarbonization upgrade is located, and that is collected in order to pay for a decarbonization upgrade.(b) Decarbonization upgrade means all of the following:(1) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the demand for electricity from an energy supplier.(2) A change to a subscriber property that allows for storage of energy.(3) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the use of fossil fuels.(4) A change to a subscriber property that converts water, wind, or sunlight to usable electricity.(c) Energy supplier means either any of the following:(1) An entity that offers an electricity product for sale to retail consumers in California, including an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, and community choice aggregator.(2) Any private corporation or association organized for purposes of transmitting or distributing electricity exclusively to its stockholders or members at cost, including an electrical cooperative.(3) A gas corporation, as defined in Section 222.(d) Subscriber means a person or entity that purchases electricity or electrical grid services from an energy supplier and is billed for the electricity or electrical grid services by the energy supplier, either directly or by another entity on behalf of the energy supplier.(e) Subscriber property means residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other real property owned, leased, or licensed for occupancy by the subscriber. |
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| 60 | 60 | | 8376. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Decarbonization charge means a charge that is added to the billing for service associated with the electrical meter, or other measuring device, under the control of an energy supplier located at the subscriber property where a decarbonization upgrade is located, and that is collected in order to pay for a decarbonization upgrade.(b) Decarbonization upgrade means all of the following:(1) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the demand for electricity from an energy supplier.(2) A change to a subscriber property that allows for storage of energy.(3) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the use of fossil fuels.(4) A change to a subscriber property that converts water, wind, or sunlight to usable electricity.(c) Energy supplier means either any of the following:(1) An entity that offers an electricity product for sale to retail consumers in California, including an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, and community choice aggregator.(2) Any private corporation or association organized for purposes of transmitting or distributing electricity exclusively to its stockholders or members at cost, including an electrical cooperative.(3) A gas corporation, as defined in Section 222.(d) Subscriber means a person or entity that purchases electricity or electrical grid services from an energy supplier and is billed for the electricity or electrical grid services by the energy supplier, either directly or by another entity on behalf of the energy supplier.(e) Subscriber property means residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other real property owned, leased, or licensed for occupancy by the subscriber. |
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| 62 | 62 | | 8376. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) Decarbonization charge means a charge that is added to the billing for service associated with the electrical meter, or other measuring device, under the control of an energy supplier located at the subscriber property where a decarbonization upgrade is located, and that is collected in order to pay for a decarbonization upgrade.(b) Decarbonization upgrade means all of the following:(1) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the demand for electricity from an energy supplier.(2) A change to a subscriber property that allows for storage of energy.(3) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the use of fossil fuels.(4) A change to a subscriber property that converts water, wind, or sunlight to usable electricity.(c) Energy supplier means either any of the following:(1) An entity that offers an electricity product for sale to retail consumers in California, including an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, and community choice aggregator.(2) Any private corporation or association organized for purposes of transmitting or distributing electricity exclusively to its stockholders or members at cost, including an electrical cooperative.(3) A gas corporation, as defined in Section 222.(d) Subscriber means a person or entity that purchases electricity or electrical grid services from an energy supplier and is billed for the electricity or electrical grid services by the energy supplier, either directly or by another entity on behalf of the energy supplier.(e) Subscriber property means residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other real property owned, leased, or licensed for occupancy by the subscriber. |
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| 66 | 66 | | 8376. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: |
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| 68 | 68 | | (a) Decarbonization charge means a charge that is added to the billing for service associated with the electrical meter, or other measuring device, under the control of an energy supplier located at the subscriber property where a decarbonization upgrade is located, and that is collected in order to pay for a decarbonization upgrade. |
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| 70 | 70 | | (b) Decarbonization upgrade means all of the following: |
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| 72 | 72 | | (1) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the demand for electricity from an energy supplier. |
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| 74 | 74 | | (2) A change to a subscriber property that allows for storage of energy. |
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| 75 | 75 | | |
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| 76 | 76 | | (3) A change to a subscriber property that reduces the use of fossil fuels. |
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| 77 | 77 | | |
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| 78 | 78 | | (4) A change to a subscriber property that converts water, wind, or sunlight to usable electricity. |
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| 80 | 80 | | (c) Energy supplier means either any of the following: |
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| 82 | 82 | | (1) An entity that offers an electricity product for sale to retail consumers in California, including an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, and community choice aggregator. |
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| 84 | 84 | | (2) Any private corporation or association organized for purposes of transmitting or distributing electricity exclusively to its stockholders or members at cost, including an electrical cooperative. |
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| 86 | 86 | | (3) A gas corporation, as defined in Section 222. |
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| 88 | 88 | | (d) Subscriber means a person or entity that purchases electricity or electrical grid services from an energy supplier and is billed for the electricity or electrical grid services by the energy supplier, either directly or by another entity on behalf of the energy supplier. |
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| 89 | 89 | | |
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| 90 | 90 | | (e) Subscriber property means residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other real property owned, leased, or licensed for occupancy by the subscriber. |
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| 92 | 92 | | SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution. |
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| 94 | 94 | | SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution. |
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| 96 | 96 | | SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution. |
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| 98 | 98 | | ### SEC. 2. |
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