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AB-1228 • 2026

Electricity: expedited utility distribution infrastructure undergrounding program.

Electricity: expedited utility distribution infrastructure undergrounding program.

Energy
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Essayli
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about how much faster or cheaper it will be to put power lines underground.

Making Underground Power Lines Faster

This law makes it easier and faster for large electricity companies to bury their power lines underground by changing how the Public Utilities Commission handles these projects.

What This Bill Does

  • It tells the Public Utilities Commission to create a special program that helps large electrical corporations put their power lines underground more quickly.
  • Large electrical corporations must give plans to the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety about how they will move their power lines underground.
  • After the plan is approved by the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, the corporation needs to ask the Public Utilities Commission for permission and approval on costs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Large electrical corporations that want to put their power lines underground
  • The Public Utilities Commission which regulates electricity companies

Terms To Know

Public Utilities Commission
A government agency that oversees and regulates public utilities like electricity, gas, and water.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
A law in California that requires environmental impact reports for projects that might harm the environment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much faster or cheaper it will be to put power lines underground.
  • It is unclear if this change applies only to large electrical corporations or includes smaller ones as well.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-03-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and NAT. RES.

  4. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  5. 2025-02-22 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.

  6. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1228, as introduced, Essayli.
Electricity: expedited utility distribution infrastructure undergrounding program.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires the commission to establish an expedited utility distribution infrastructure undergrounding program for large electrical corporations. In order to participate in the program, existing law requires a large electrical corporation to submit to the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety a distribution infrastructure undergrounding plan, as provided. Upon approval of the plan by the office, existing law requires the large electrical corporation to submit to the commission an application requesting review and conditional approval of the plan’s costs and other specified information.
This bill would specify that the approval of a distribution infrastructure undergrounding plan is not a project for
purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF