AB-99 • 2026

Electrical corporations: rates.

Crime Education Elections

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Ta
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 material does not provide details about potential criminal penalties for violating the new rate increase rules.

Electrical Companies: Rate Increases

AB-99 sets rules about how much electrical companies can raise their rates and when they need customer approval.

What This Bill Does

It stops electrical corporations from proposing rate increases above the rate of inflation unless customers vote to approve it in an election conducted according to specific requirements.
The Public Utilities Commission cannot approve higher price increases without customer approval, except for safety enhancements or modernization and higher commodity or fuel costs.

Who It Names or Affects

Electrical companies
Customers of electrical corporations
Public Utilities Commission

Terms To Know

Rate of inflation: The percentage increase in prices for goods and services over time.
General rate case cycle: A period during which electrical companies can request changes to their rates.

Limits and Unknowns

It does not specify how often customers will vote on rate increases.
The bill does not explain the exact process for customer elections.

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.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-03-27 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (March 26).
2025-02-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on U. & E.
2025-01-09 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 8.
2025-01-08 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 99, as amended, Ta.
Electrical corporations: rates.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical 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.
This bill would prohibit an electrical corporation from
proposing, and the commission from approving,
proposing
a rate increase above the rate of inflation,
unless the rate increase is approved by a majority of the electrical corporation’s customers voting in an election conducted according to specified requirements, and except when
as defined, as a systemwide average for any general rate case cycle, except the bill would expressly authorize the commission to approve a rate increase above the rate of inflation if
the commission determines that the costs underlying the rate increase are directly related to safety enhancements and modernization or to higher commodity or fuel costs.
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 above prohibition would be a part of the act, and because a violation of a commission action implementing the above prohibition 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