Bill > SB593

This bill addresses consumer protection from power surges by requiring utilities (including electrical corporations, community choice aggregators, and local publicly owned electric utilities) to implement comprehensive measures to protect ratepayers from voltage changes that can damage electrical systems and appliances. Specifically, the bill mandates that utilities develop a notification system that alerts customers within 5 minutes of detecting a power surge via text, email, mobile app, or other approved methods, providing details about the surge and recommended actions. Utilities must also install and maintain equipment to detect power surges, submit quarterly reports to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and compensate ratepayers for damages caused by equipment failure or negligence. The bill requires the PUC to evaluate and potentially adjust consumer protections by July 1, 2026, and requires local publicly owned electric utilities to adopt policies protecting customers from voltage changes by January 1, 2027. Additionally, the bill requires the PUC to include information about voltage events, claims, and resolved claims in its annual report, and allows utilities to seek rate adjustments to cover implementation costs. The legislation aims to enhance ratepayer protection, reduce property damage, and increase utility accountability by creating a more transparent and responsive system for managing power surges.

Budget and Finance, Justice, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB593