LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Recently, the California Energy Commission (CEC) ruled that they will broaden their assessment of energy projects to include environmental and climate justice cost benefits. This is a monumental victory for the energy democracy and environmental justice movement.

This momentum carried over to the state capitol, where legislators introduced unprecedented bills advocating for greater transparency and reforming outdated energy laws.

However, the Monopoly Utilities and their legislative allies unleashed a fury of lobbyists to pressure, cajole, and, in some cases, attempt to isolate legislators. Unfortunately, these bullying tactics were partially successful, and two of our major legislative priorities were voted down or stopped by leadership–AB 1999, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin's bill to cap any utility tax at $10 and Senator David Mim's reform bill to prohibit private utilities from lobbying with ratepayer funds.

Some of our supported bills are still advancing through the legislature. We'll update their status daily.

We will continue our fight for environmental & climate justice, equity, energy democracy, and equity.

Thank you for your advocacy.

Energy Democracy Bills CEEE Supports.

California rulemaking requires health and environment assessment in energy policy decisions

The California Energy Center must now assess costs and benefits related to health and environmental externalities of energy generation and transmission.

March 13, 2024

ENERGY DEMOCRACY BILLS

AB 1999 (Irwin)

The bill would stop the big Utility Tax by capping it at $10/month and prohibiting it from rising faster than inflation.

Supported by more than 250 climate and environmental justice, renter's, and consumer's rights organizations.

Twenty legislative co-authors

Coalition in support of AB 1999.

Opposed by IOUs and their unions (NOT recorded)

(Legislation amended. To be heard in Assembly Energy and Appropriations)

SB 1148 (Blakespear & Wahab)

The legislation would use a master meter to enable resilience for multi-unit housing, government facilities, and places of worship.

Require the CPUC to include all the benefits of rooftop solar when deciding how much credit solar users get.

Amended to NOT include non-energy/public health benefits

AB 2619 (Connolly)

Would ban solar taxes and require the CPUC to revise its net metering decision to align with the state's actual clean energy goals.

Restores the right of renters, farmers, and schools to make and consume their own solar energy, which the state took away last year.

Exempts microgrids from the definition of an electric corporation, thus decreasing regulatory barriers to their adoption. Removes approval authority of microgrids out of the hands of the California Public Utilities Commission.

Coalition in support of AB 3107

No reported opposition

Turned into a study bill, essentially killing the substance of the bill

REFORM BILLS TO HOLD THE UTILITIES AND THE CPUC ACCOUNTABLE

SB 938 (Min)

This reform bill would prohibit private utilities from lobbying with ratepayer funds.

Another reform will that bans former CPUC commissioners from being employed by the companies they regulate for ten years after their term ends.

This reform bill requires anyone who votes on energy policy to fully disclose junkets, such as legislators and CPUC commissioners.

This reform bill specifies that a "public entity" includes an investor-owned utility and that a project contracted by an investor-owned utility is a "public works contract" for purposes of this requirement, thus making the IOU projects more efficient and open to competition among collective bargaining units.