Bill > AB1228

This bill amends the existing Public Utilities Code to clarify the process for an expedited utility distribution infrastructure undergrounding program, specifically focusing on large electrical corporations' efforts to move electrical lines underground to reduce wildfire risks. The bill establishes a comprehensive framework where electrical corporations must submit a 10-year plan to the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety that details undergrounding projects, prioritizing areas in high fire-threat districts, and comparing underground versus alternative infrastructure hardening methods. The plan must include workforce development strategies, cost projections, and potential risk reduction benefits. After initial office approval, the corporation must submit the plan to the Public Utilities Commission for cost review, with the commission facilitating public workshops and potentially approving the plan. The bill requires six-month progress reports, annual updates in wildfire mitigation plans, and an independent monitor to assess the corporation's compliance. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that the plan's approval itself is not considered a project under the California Environmental Quality Act, though environmental reviews must still occur before any physical infrastructure changes. The goal is to create a structured, transparent process for reducing wildfire risks by moving electrical infrastructure underground while maintaining cost-effectiveness and public safety.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1228