AB-1342 • 2026

Public Utilities Commission: energy efficiency programs: report.

Crime Education Energy Small Business

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Soria
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 mention criminal penalties for non-compliance by electrical corporations, only that violations of the Public Utilities Act or commission requirements are crimes in general.

Public Utilities Commission: Energy Efficiency Programs Report

AB-1342 requires the Public Utilities Commission to report annually on ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs and mandates that residential customers receive California Climate Credits in summer months, with a larger portion going to those in hotter regions.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to report annually on electrical corporation ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs similar to those run by other state agencies.
Changes when residential customers get their California Climate Credit from once every two years to four times a year during summer months (June, July, August, and September).
Ensures that more of the climate credit money goes to residents in hotter parts of the state.

Who It Names or Affects

Public Utilities Commission
Electrical corporations
Residential customers

Terms To Know

California Climate Credit: Money given to residential and small business customers by electrical companies as a result of greenhouse gas allowances.
Public Utilities Commission: The state agency that regulates public utilities, including electricity providers.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how the Public Utilities Commission will enforce these rules.
Does not provide details on what happens if a utility company does not follow the new reporting requirements or climate credit distribution rules.
The bill's full impact depends on how the Public Utilities Commission implements and enforces its provisions.

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.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
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.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and NAT. RES.
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 1342, as amended, Soria.
Electrical corporations: climate credits.
Public Utilities Commission: energy efficiency programs: report.
Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission, on or before December 31, 2018, and biennially thereafter, as part of a specified report, to identify and report to the Legislature on electrical and gas corporation ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs that are similar to programs administered by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, the State Air Resources Board, and the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority.
This bill would instead require the commission to identify and report to the Legislature on those programs on an annual basis.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms in regulating those emissions. The implementing regulations adopted by the state board provide for the direct allocation of greenhouse gas allowances to electrical corporations and gas corporations pursuant to a market-based compliance mechanism.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law, except as provided, requires revenues received by an
electrical corporation as a result of the direct allocation of greenhouse gas allowances to electrical distribution utilities to be credited directly to residential, small business, and emissions-intensive trade-exposed retail customers of the electrical corporation, commonly known as the electric California Climate Credit.
This bill would require that the electric California Climate Credit be provided to residential customers in the months of June, July, August, and September. The bill would require the commission to ensure that a larger portion of those revenues be allocated as electric California Climate Credits to residential customers living in the hotter regions of the state, as provided.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the above provisions would be
part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing this bill’s requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF