Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that requires utility regulators to enforce monetary penalties on investor-owned utility companies in California.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a utility company from recovering direct or indirect costs from ratepayers related to any of the following (Sec. 3):

• Membership dues, sponsorships, or other contributions that support political influence activities or advertising;

• Charitable giving, including contributions to qualified nonprofits;

• Political influence activities;

• Promotional advertising;

• Contributions to political candidates, parties, campaign committees, issue committees, independent expenditure committees, or other political expenses;

• Costs for products or services not regulated by the Public Utilities Commission;

• Penalties or fines issued against the utility;

• Board of directors and officers liability insurance, and travel, lodging, food, or beverage expenses for a utility board, officers, or affiliate;

• An aircraft for the utility’s board, officers, or affiliates; or

• Investor relations.

• Requires a utility company to clearly and conspicuously disclose whether any of its public messages are paid for by the utility’s shareholders or ratepayers (Sec. 3).

• Requires utility companies to annually report, beginning May 31, 2026, specified information on each employee not represented by a labor organization, work performed and costs incurred by outside vendors, and an account of expenses for all commission proceedings (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Public Utilities Commission to assess a penalty on any utility company that violates the prohibitions described in the first paragraph above (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires utility regulators to enforce monetary penalties on investor-owned utility companies in California.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a utility company from recovering direct or indirect costs from ratepayers related to any of the following (Sec. 3):

• Membership dues, sponsorships, or other contributions that support political influence activities or advertising;

• Charitable giving, including contributions to qualified nonprofits;

• Political influence activities;

• Promotional advertising;

• Contributions to political candidates, parties, campaign committees, issue committees, independent expenditure committees, or other political expenses;

• Costs for products or services not regulated by the Public Utilities Commission;

• Penalties or fines issued against the utility;

• Board of directors and officers liability insurance, and travel, lodging, food, or beverage expenses for a utility board, officers, or affiliate;

• An aircraft for the utility’s board, officers, or affiliates; or

• Investor relations.

• Requires a utility company to clearly and conspicuously disclose whether any of its public messages are paid for by the utility’s shareholders or ratepayers (Sec. 3).

• Requires utility companies to annually report, beginning May 31, 2026, specified information on each employee not represented by a labor organization, work performed and costs incurred by outside vendors, and an account of expenses for all commission proceedings (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Public Utilities Commission to assess a penalty on any utility company that violates the prohibitions described in the first paragraph above (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text