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SB-593 • 2026

Electrical corporations: significant voltage-related incidents: studies.

Electrical corporations: significant voltage-related incidents: studies.

Crime Education Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Hurtado
Last action
2025-10-06
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 420, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide details on potential penalties for non-compliance, but mention that violations of commission actions are crimes under existing law.

Electric Companies: Studies on Voltage Problems

The law requires large electric companies to study voltage-related incidents causing at least $5,000 in damage and for the Public Utilities Commission to report these studies online and to the Legislature.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Public Utilities Commission to instruct large electrical corporations to start a study on significant voltage-related incidents by January 1, 2027.
  • Defines 'significant voltage-related incidents' as events causing at least $5,000 in damage to customer property.
  • Asks the Public Utilities Commission to publish links to these studies online and report them to the Legislature.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Large electrical corporations
  • The Public Utilities Commission

Terms To Know

Public Utilities Commission
A government agency that regulates public utilities like electricity and water companies to ensure fair service.
Significant voltage-related incidents
Events involving electrical issues that cause at least $5,000 in damage to customer property.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact criteria for what qualifies as a 'large' electrical corporation.
  • It is unclear how the studies will be used or if they will lead to further regulations.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-06 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 420, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-06 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-22 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.

  4. 2025-09-10 California Legislative Information

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2839.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-08 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  6. 2025-09-08 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 3006.) Ordered to the Senate.

  7. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  8. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  9. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).

  10. 2025-08-20 California Legislative Information

    August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  11. 2025-06-30 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  12. 2025-06-27 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (June 25).

  13. 2025-06-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.

  14. 2025-06-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on U. & E.

  15. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  16. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1333.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  17. 2025-05-13 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  18. 2025-05-12 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

  19. 2025-05-06 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 12.

  20. 2025-05-05 California Legislative Information

    May 5 hearing postponed by committee.

  21. 2025-04-25 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 5.

  22. 2025-04-21 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  23. 2025-04-21 California Legislative Information

    Withdrawn from committee.

  24. 2025-04-11 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 29.

  25. 2025-04-10 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

  26. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 13. Noes 3. Page 681.) (April 7).

  27. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 7.

  28. 2025-03-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and JUD.

  29. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.

  30. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 593, Hurtado.
Electrical corporations: significant voltage-related incidents: studies.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires each public utility to furnish and maintain adequate, efficient, just, and reasonable service, instrumentalities, equipment, and facilities, as are necessary to promote the safety, health, comfort, and convenience of its patrons, employees, and the public.
Existing law requires the commission to annually publish a
report, pursuant to commission requirements, as provided.
This bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2027, to require each large electrical corporation, as defined, to commence a study to evaluate significant voltage-related incidents, as defined, across its residential, commercial, and industrial customers that resulted in damage to customer-owned equipment, appliances, or property totaling $5,000 or more, as provided. The bill would require the commission, on or before July 1, 2027, to publish hyperlinks on its internet website to the studies, and to report on the studies to the Legislature.
Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because 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

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