AB-1295 • 2026

Public utilities: bills and notices: consolidation and transparency.

Crime Education Energy Taxes

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Patterson
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 official source does not provide specific details on how the Public Utilities Commission will use stakeholder input or clarify bill charges beyond evaluating existing requirements.

Public Utilities: Clearer Bills and Notices

This law requires public utilities to provide information about extra costs due to state rules or programs on their bills every three months, and it asks the Public Utilities Commission to review billing requirements by June 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Requires each public utility to disclose additional costs attributable to state requirements or programs on customer billing statements quarterly in a visible area similar to other charges.
Directs the Public Utilities Commission to evaluate all existing customer billing and notice requirements for gas and electric utilities by June 1, 2026, with input from stakeholders.

Who It Names or Affects

Public utility customers who receive bills for electricity or gas.
The Public Utilities Commission which regulates public utilities in California.

Terms To Know

Public Utilities Commission: A government agency that oversees and sets rules for companies providing services like electricity, water, and gas to the public.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much it will cost utilities to follow these new rules.
It is unclear what specific changes the Public Utilities Commission will make after evaluating billing requirements.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-03-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on U. & E.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-22 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1295, as amended, Patterson.
Public utilities:
billing statements: additional costs attributable to state requirements or programs.
bills and notices: consolidation and transparency.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires each electrical corporation and gas corporation to disclose on the billing statement of a residential customer certain information, including itemized components in the bill to identify state and local taxes, identification of delivery, generation, public purpose, and other charges, and the contact information for the commission’s Consumer Affairs Branch.
This bill would require each public utility to provide to its customers information on the additional costs that are attributable to state requirements or programs,
including those imposed by statute, regulation, the commission, or the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. The bill would require this information to be provided quarterly on the customer billing statement in a visible area and in a similar size and font as the billing information.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of an order or decision of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime or expanding the application of a crime.
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.
This bill would require the commission, on or before June 1, 2026, to evaluate all customer billing and noticing requirements existing on January 1, 2026, that apply to gas or electric utilities, and to identify and consider potential avenues to consolidate and enhance billing transparency, including avenues that clearly show the source and value of each charge within each customer’s bill, as specified, and use the most cost-effective communications channels, as provided. The bill would authorize the commission to seek and consider input from utilities and other relevant stakeholders to inform its evaluation and identification and consideration of potential avenues to consolidate notices and enhance billing transparency.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF