Bill > SB256

This bill addresses wildfire mitigation and emergency preparedness for electrical corporations and local publicly owned electric utilities in California. It requires these utilities to enhance their wildfire mitigation plans by considering low-risk areas adjacent to high fire threat zones and incorporating more comprehensive communication and notification protocols during potential power shutoffs. The bill mandates that utilities establish procedures for notifying customers and non-customers about power shutoffs, including estimated restoration times and opt-out options, and requires coordination with the Office of Emergency Services. Additionally, the bill requires electrical corporations to consider undergrounding electrical infrastructure in wildfire-affected areas when it is cost-effective, and mandates that utilities conduct annual wildfire preparedness workshops with local fire departments. The legislation also requires electrical corporations and local utilities with service areas overlapping state regional emergency operations centers to assign representatives to these centers and complete standardized emergency management training. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the California Public Utilities Commission from allowing large electrical corporations to include certain fire risk mitigation capital expenditures in their equity rate base and establishes an expedited utility distribution infrastructure undergrounding program that all electrical corporations must now participate in, with specific requirements for plan submissions, risk assessments, and cost strategies.

Budget and Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB256