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<ns0:Id>20250SB__092498AMD</ns0:Id>
<ns0:VersionNum>98</ns0:VersionNum>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-01-28</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-04-06</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
<ns0:MeasureType>SB</ns0:MeasureType>
<ns0:MeasureNum>924</ns0:MeasureNum>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Hurtado</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Hurtado</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 2790 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>energy</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Low-income energy assistance.</ns0:Subject>
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<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law requires the commission to require electrical corporations and gas corporations to perform home weatherization services, as described, for low-income customers if the commission determines that a significant need for those services exists in the corporation’s service territory, taking into consideration both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the policy of reducing the hardships facing low-income households, as specified.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require the commission to require electrical corporations and gas corporations, in performing those home weatherization
services, to prioritize
measurable improvements in household affordability and positive impacts on household health and safety and overall quality of life, integration of health, safety, and indoor air quality improvement measures necessary to enable whole-home improvements, coordinated delivery across fuel types and housing types, conditions, and tenancy structures, and program design that allows for tenant-level benefits where upgrades occur in rental properties,
while preserving flexibility in program design. The bill would require the commission to require electrical and gas corporations to report on measurable household affordability outcomes, as specified. The bill would require the commission to ensure meaningful public and stakeholder input on the design and implementation of these low-income programs, as provided. The bill would require the commission to require electrical and gas corporations to prioritize participation by California-based small business enterprises, minority-owned business enterprises, women-owned business enterprises, and disabled veteran business enterprises in program delivery and contracting opportunities, as specified. The bill would revise the definition of “weatherization” for these purposes, as specified.</html:p>
<html:p>Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule,
direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.</html:p>
<html:p>Because a violation of a commission action implementing the bill’s requirements would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
<html:p>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.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Home energy assistance affordability outcomes are inconsistently measured, limiting accountability for bill impacts.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Statutory silos separate gas and electricity planning, increasing delivery costs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Existing programs inadequately
advance equity across diverse housing types, geographic regions, and household circumstances.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Misalignment between affordability, decarbonization, and housing policy increases long-term system costs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Certain eligible households do not consistently realize direct utility bill savings from energy efficiency services and upgrades, necessitating statutory clarification to guarantee measurable household affordability outcomes.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The program design for home energy assistance services should ensure measurable household affordability improvements and integrate health, safety, and indoor environmental quality considerations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(7)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For purposes of this act, affordability should not be limited solely to reductions in energy consumption, but should encompass durable utility bill impacts, the mitigation of health and safety hazards that increase household costs, and the delivery of whole-home improvements necessary to achieve long-term economic and environmental resilience.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(8)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Strengthening governance structures and oversight continuity supports effective coordination of low-income energy programs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
It is the intent of the Legislature to promote affordability, equity, health and safety, and resilience in home energy, authorize flexible program designs reflective of modern housing conditions, and strengthen reporting and
oversight without prescribing implementation details.
</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Section 2790 of the
<ns0:DocName>Public Utilities Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>2790.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The commission shall require an electrical corporation or gas corporation to perform home weatherization services for low-income customers if the commission determines that a need for those services exists in the corporation’s service territory, taking into consideration both the cost-effectiveness of the services and the policy of reducing the hardships facing low-income households.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In performing its duties pursuant to paragraph (1), the commission shall require an electrical corporation or gas corporation to prioritize all of the following while preserving flexibility
in program design:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Measurable improvements in household affordability including utility bill savings and positive impacts on household health and safety and overall quality of life.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Integration of health, safety, and indoor air quality improvement measures necessary to enable whole-home
improvements.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Coordinated delivery across fuel types and housing
types, conditions, and tenancy structures.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Program design that allows for tenant-level benefits where upgrades occur in rental properties.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The commission shall direct an electrical corporation or gas
corporation to provide as many of the measures described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) as are feasible for each eligible low-income dwelling unit.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Weatherization programs shall use the needs assessment pursuant to Section 382.1 to maximize efficiency of delivery.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The commission shall require each electrical corporation and gas corporation to solicit public input on the design and implementation of a low-income energy efficiency program pursuant to this section.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The commission shall not increase the authorized budgets for the Energy Savings Assistance Program based on the expansion of income eligibility made under paragraph (2) of
subdivision (h).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The commission shall require each electrical corporation and gas corporation to report on measurable household affordability outcomes, including estimated bill reductions, disaggregated by housing type and tenancy status, in a manner consistent with the needs assessment conducted pursuant to Section 382.1.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The commission shall ensure meaningful public and stakeholder input in the design and implementation of low-income programs authorized under this section, including consultation with community-based organizations and the Low-Income Oversight Board.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(h)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In administering programs authorized pursuant to this section, the commission shall require each electrical corporation and gas corporation to prioritize participation by California-based small business enterprises, minority-owned business enterprises, women-owned business enterprises, and disabled veteran business enterprises in program delivery and contracting opportunities.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Each program administrator shall ensure that contracting processes provide meaningful and competitive access for those enterprises described in paragraph (1) and shall avoid procurement structures that unduly favor large or vertically integrated corporations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This subdivision does not prohibit competitive bidding requirements or affect applicable state procurement laws.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For purposes of this section, all of the
following definitions apply:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Energy management technology” may include a product, service, or software that allows a customer to better understand and manage electricity or gas use in the customer’s home.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Low-income customers” means persons and families whose household income is at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Weatherization” may include, where feasible, any of the following measures for any dwelling unit:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Attic insulation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Air infiltration measures.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(iii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Water heating and water-saving technologies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(iv)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Minor home repairs that reduce air infiltration or energy usage.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(v)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
High-efficiency and smart appliances.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(vi)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(vii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Heat pump technologies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(viii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Energy management technologies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Weatherization” may also include other building conservation measures, energy management technology, energy-efficient appliances, and energy education programs determined by the commission to be feasible, taking into consideration for all measures both the cost-effectiveness of the measures as a whole and the policy of reducing energy-related hardships facing low-income households.
</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
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
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution.
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