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AB-61 • 2026

Electricity and natural gas: legislation imposing mandated programs and requirements: third-party review.

Electricity and natural gas: legislation imposing mandated programs and requirements: third-party review.

Energy
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Pacheco
Last action
Official status
Senate - Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not specify exactly which types of legislation qualify for analysis beyond those that establish mandates or affect ratepayers.

Third-Party Review for Electricity and Gas Laws

This law requires the Public Advocate's Office to create a program by January 1, 2027, that analyzes electricity or gas legislation upon request from the Legislature while setting rules to stop people with financial conflicts from doing this work.

What This Bill Does

  • The Public Advocate's Office must start a program by January 1, 2027. This program will analyze laws that create new requirements for utilities or affect electricity and gas customers' bills.
  • This review happens only when the Legislature asks for it.
  • The office must make rules to stop people from working on these reviews if they have a material financial interest in the outcome.
  • These conflict-of-interest rules will end on January 1, 2032.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public utility customers who buy electricity or gas
  • The Public Advocate's Office of the Public Utilities Commission

Limits and Unknowns

  • This review program only starts if the Legislature asks for it.
  • The specific rules about financial conflicts will be made after January 1, 2027.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Senate - Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Electricity and natural gas: legislation imposing mandated programs and requirements: third-party review.