SB-842 • 2026

Energy: firm zero-carbon resources.

Crime Education Energy

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Stern
Last action: 2025-08-29
Official status: August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details about penalties or enforcement mechanisms beyond stating that violations would be crimes under existing laws.

Energy: Firm Zero-Carbon Resources

The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to create a report on opportunities and challenges related to using firm zero-carbon resources for energy reliability.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to produce a report by December 31, 2026, identifying opportunities and needs for local and system reliability with firm zero-carbon resources over short-term, mid-term, and long-term periods.
The report must include characterization of resource attributes vital for reliability and identification of barriers to deploying these resources.

Who It Names or Affects

The Public Utilities Commission
Electrical corporations in California

Terms To Know

Firm zero-carbon resources: Energy sources that do not produce carbon emissions and are available when needed.
Public Utilities Commission: A government agency that regulates public utilities like electricity companies in California.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the cost or funding source for producing the report.
It is unclear what specific actions electrical corporations must take based on this report.

Bill History

2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-27 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
2025-06-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on U. & E.
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 10. Page 1520.) 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 1215.) (May 23).
2025-05-20 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-19 California Legislative Information
May 19 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 19.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 3. Page 936.) (April 29).
2025-04-11 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 29.
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.
2025-03-26 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-03-12 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 842, as amended, Stern.
Energy: firm zero-carbon resources.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires electrical corporations to submit information to the commission for various purposes, as provided.
This bill would require the commission, on or before December 31, 2026, to produce a report identifying opportunities and needs to provide for local
and system
reliability with firm zero-carbon resources over the short term, midterm, and long term, as provided. The bill would require the report to include, among other things, characterization of the resource attributes vital for local
and system
reliability and identification of barriers, including market barriers, to deploying firm zero-carbon resources to enhance local
and system
reliability.
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 provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of a commission action implementing those provisions 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