CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 256Introduced by Senator PrezFebruary 03, 2025 An act relating to electricity. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 256, as introduced, Prez. Electricity: electrical infrastructure.Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires the commission to implement and enforce standards for the maintenance and operation of facilities for the generation and storage of electricity owned by an electrical corporation or located in the state to ensure their reliable operation.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enhance the resiliency and reliability of Californias electrical infrastructure in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters by requiring electrical utilities to prioritize the undergrounding of power lines, the implementation of microgrid technologies, and the strengthening of public safety power shutoff standards and accountability, while ensuring the utilization of labor standards that promote a skilled workforce, and providing the commission with the ability to immediately access all relevant electrical fault data related to natural disasters.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enhance the resiliency and reliability of Californias electrical infrastructure in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters by requiring electrical utilities to prioritize the undergrounding of power lines, the implementation of microgrid technologies, and the strengthening of public safety power shutoff standards and accountability, while ensuring the utilization of labor standards that promote a skilled workforce, and providing the Public Utilities Commission with the ability to immediately access all relevant electrical fault data related to natural disasters.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 256Introduced by Senator PrezFebruary 03, 2025 An act relating to electricity. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 256, as introduced, Prez. Electricity: electrical infrastructure.Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires the commission to implement and enforce standards for the maintenance and operation of facilities for the generation and storage of electricity owned by an electrical corporation or located in the state to ensure their reliable operation.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enhance the resiliency and reliability of Californias electrical infrastructure in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters by requiring electrical utilities to prioritize the undergrounding of power lines, the implementation of microgrid technologies, and the strengthening of public safety power shutoff standards and accountability, while ensuring the utilization of labor standards that promote a skilled workforce, and providing the commission with the ability to immediately access all relevant electrical fault data related to natural disasters.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 256
Introduced by Senator PrezFebruary 03, 2025
Introduced by Senator Prez
February 03, 2025
An act relating to electricity.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 256, as introduced, Prez. Electricity: electrical infrastructure.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires the commission to implement and enforce standards for the maintenance and operation of facilities for the generation and storage of electricity owned by an electrical corporation or located in the state to ensure their reliable operation.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enhance the resiliency and reliability of Californias electrical infrastructure in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters by requiring electrical utilities to prioritize the undergrounding of power lines, the implementation of microgrid technologies, and the strengthening of public safety power shutoff standards and accountability, while ensuring the utilization of labor standards that promote a skilled workforce, and providing the commission with the ability to immediately access all relevant electrical fault data related to natural disasters.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires the commission to implement and enforce standards for the maintenance and operation of facilities for the generation and storage of electricity owned by an electrical corporation or located in the state to ensure their reliable operation.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enhance the resiliency and reliability of Californias electrical infrastructure in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters by requiring electrical utilities to prioritize the undergrounding of power lines, the implementation of microgrid technologies, and the strengthening of public safety power shutoff standards and accountability, while ensuring the utilization of labor standards that promote a skilled workforce, and providing the commission with the ability to immediately access all relevant electrical fault data related to natural disasters.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enhance the resiliency and reliability of Californias electrical infrastructure in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters by requiring electrical utilities to prioritize the undergrounding of power lines, the implementation of microgrid technologies, and the strengthening of public safety power shutoff standards and accountability, while ensuring the utilization of labor standards that promote a skilled workforce, and providing the Public Utilities Commission with the ability to immediately access all relevant electrical fault data related to natural disasters.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enhance the resiliency and reliability of Californias electrical infrastructure in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters by requiring electrical utilities to prioritize the undergrounding of power lines, the implementation of microgrid technologies, and the strengthening of public safety power shutoff standards and accountability, while ensuring the utilization of labor standards that promote a skilled workforce, and providing the Public Utilities Commission with the ability to immediately access all relevant electrical fault data related to natural disasters.
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enhance the resiliency and reliability of Californias electrical infrastructure in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters by requiring electrical utilities to prioritize the undergrounding of power lines, the implementation of microgrid technologies, and the strengthening of public safety power shutoff standards and accountability, while ensuring the utilization of labor standards that promote a skilled workforce, and providing the Public Utilities Commission with the ability to immediately access all relevant electrical fault data related to natural disasters.
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enhance the resiliency and reliability of Californias electrical infrastructure in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters by requiring electrical utilities to prioritize the undergrounding of power lines, the implementation of microgrid technologies, and the strengthening of public safety power shutoff standards and accountability, while ensuring the utilization of labor standards that promote a skilled workforce, and providing the Public Utilities Commission with the ability to immediately access all relevant electrical fault data related to natural disasters.
### SECTION 1.