Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund.

Budget Crime Education Energy

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Hoover
Last action: 2026-04-09
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify exact amounts or details of the specific public purpose programs.

Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund

The bill establishes the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund to support various energy-related programs and removes existing charges on electrical service that fund these programs.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a new fund called the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund.
Requires the Controller to transfer money from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund into this new fund each year starting in July 2026.
Directs the Public Utilities Commission to allocate funds for specific public purpose programs after receiving approval from the Legislature.
Repeals existing charges on electrical service that were used to fund these programs.

Who It Names or Affects

Public utilities and electrical corporations
The Public Utilities Commission
Electricity customers in California

Terms To Know

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: A fund that collects money from the sale of carbon allowances to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Public Utilities Commission: The government agency responsible for regulating public utilities in California.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how much money will be transferred each year from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the new Public Purpose Programs Fund.
Requires actions by the Legislature and the Controller, which may affect when or if these provisions are implemented.
The bill does not provide details on all the specific programs that will receive funding.

Bill History

2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
2026-03-26 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on U. & E.
2026-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2508, as amended, Hoover.
Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Under existing law, the commission administers, or otherwise oversees, various public purpose programs, including energy efficiency and conservation programs, cost-effective energy efficiency programs, rate assistance programs for eligible food banks, and home insulation financial assistance programs. Under existing law, those programs are generally funded through a charge on electrical service, which is collected through customer rates.
This bill would establish the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund. The bill would
require the commission, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to allocate the moneys in the fund to fund certain public purpose programs and programs administered by electrical regional
energy networks, as specified. The bill would require the Controller to transfer an unspecified sum on July 1 of each fiscal year, commencing with the 2026–27 fiscal year, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the fund.
require the commission, no later than January 1 of each year, commencing January 1, 2027, to determine and publish the amount necessary to fund certain public purpose programs and programs administered by electrical regional energy networks for the following fiscal year, as provided. The bill would require the Controller to transfer, on July 1 of each fiscal year, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund moneys appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose. The bill would require all moneys in the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund to be allocated by the commission, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to fund the public purpose
programs and programs administered by electrical regional energy networks, as provided. The bill would repeal various charges on electrical service that fund public purpose programs and, instead, provide mechanisms for funding those public purpose programs through the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund, as specified.
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 certain of 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

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