SB-541 • 2026

Electricity: load shifting.

Energy

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor: Becker
Last action: 2026-03-02
Official status: Veto sustained.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was vetoed by the governor, but it is not clear if lawmakers will try to override this veto.

Electricity: Load Shifting

This bill requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to analyze and report on load-shifting programs that help reduce peak electricity use.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Energy Commission, in consultation with specified entities, to analyze the cost-effectiveness of specific load flexibility programs and other types of load-shifting interventions and identify both the approximate amount of load shifting and the cost-effectiveness of each type of load-shifting intervention in the next update to the biennial integrated energy policy report after January 1, 2027.
Requires the Energy Commission, as part of each integrated energy policy report, to estimate each retail supplier’s load-shifting potential, giving consideration to certain factors.
Requires the Energy Commission, on or before July 1, 2028, and biennially thereafter, to analyze and publish the amount of load shifting that each retail supplier achieved in the prior calendar year.

Who It Names or Affects

The State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission
Retail electricity suppliers

Terms To Know

Load Shifting: Moving the time when people or businesses use electricity to times of lower demand.
Biennial Integrated Energy Policy Report: A report that comes out every two years with information about energy policies and goals.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was vetoed by the governor, but it is not clear if lawmakers will try to override this veto.
It does not specify what happens if a retail supplier fails to meet their load-shifting targets.

Bill History

2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Veto sustained.
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Stricken from file.
2025-10-03 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2025-10-03 California Legislative Information
Vetoed by the Governor.
2025-09-23 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
2025-09-13 California Legislative Information
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 8. Page 3036.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-09-13 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 57. Noes 15. Page 3415.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-09-05 California Legislative Information
Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-05 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended.
2025-09-03 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 29).
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-17 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-17 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 2.) (July 16).
2025-07-17 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 49. Noes 15. Page 2578.)
2025-07-08 California Legislative Information
July 9 hearing postponed by committee.
2025-06-26 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
2025-06-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on U. & E.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 10. Page 1447.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1203.) (May 23).
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-12 California Legislative Information
May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-02 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 12.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-28 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 4. Page 810.) (April 21).
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 21.
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-03-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 541, Becker.
Electricity: load shifting.
Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), in consultation with the specified entities, to adopt a biennial integrated energy policy report containing certain information in a specified format. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission and the Independent System Operator, to adopt a goal for load shifting to reduce net peak electrical demand and adjust this target in each biennial integrated energy policy report thereafter.
This bill would require the Energy Commission, in consultation with specified entities, to analyze the cost-effectiveness of specific load flexibility
programs
and other types of load-shifting interventions and identify both the approximate amount of load shifting and the cost-effectiveness of each type of load-shifting intervention in the next update to the biennial integrated energy policy report after January 1, 2027, as provided. The bill would require the Energy Commission, as part of each integrated energy policy report, to estimate each retail supplier’s load-shifting potential, giving consideration to certain factors, as specified. The bill would require the Energy Commission, on or before July 1, 2028, and biennially thereafter, to analyze and publish the amount of load shifting that each retail supplier achieved in the
prior calendar year.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF