Senate energy subcommittee advances RD 108 hydropower authority, utility cost-analysis requirement, passive-house study and other energy bills

The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications’ subcommittee advanced seven bills during a lengthy hearing that included testimony from district managers, county supervisors, utility representatives and industry groups.

Assemblymember Aguirre-Curry told the panel that AB 59 would remove a scheduled sunset and give Reclamation District 108 permanent authority to participate in hydropower projects. “Reclamation District 108 provides water to nearly 48,000 acres of farmland in Southern Colusa and Northern Yolo County,” Aguirre-Curry said, and the district needs long-term certainty to pursue small hydropower projects and long-term financing. Supporters including Louis Baer, RD 108 general manager, and Doris Klauspek Smith, chair of the Colusa County Board of Supervisors, said the extension would help lower energy costs and enable investment in canal-based hydropower. The subcommittee approved the bill by voice vote (recorded in the transcript as 10–0 in the subcommittee session).

Assemblymember Pacheco presented AB 61, which would require the Public Advocates Office at the California Public Utilities Commission to analyze the cost and efficacy of proposed legislative mandates that affect electric and natural gas companies before policy committees vote. “AB 61 will provide legislators with independent data-driven analysis about how proposed legislation would affect California utility bills,” Pacheco said. Lourdes Ayon of San Diego Gas & Electric supported the bill, saying ratepayers deserve to see cost estimates up front. The subcommittee moved AB 61 (transcript record: 10–0).

Assemblymember Ward introduced AB 368, directing the California Energy Commission (CEC) to produce a one-time report comparing passive-house certification models and cost-effectiveness versus existing Title 24 construction. Ward described passive-house construction as a high-performance, low-energy building approach that can reduce emissions and improve indoor air quality. Jonathan Cole of Climate Action California testified in support. The subcommittee advanced the study bill (transcript record: 10–0).

Assemblymember Rubio presented AB 428, which would allow water corporations regulated by the state to join joint powers authorities (JPAs) for pooled insurance purposes and requires demonstration that membership benefits customers by reducing rates or improving service. Jennifer Capitalo of the California Water Association and Susan Allen of CalMutual’s JPRIMA described steep insurance-cost increases for small water systems and supported the bill. The subcommittee passed AB 428 (transcript record: 10–0).

Assemblymember Davies offered AB 615 to require that emergency action plans for battery energy storage facilities be submitted with initial applications to the California Energy Commission and developed in coordination with local first responders. Davies cited the Moss Landing lithium-ion battery fire and the release of hazardous byproducts as a rationale for the change. The measure clarifies that proposed facilities must meet applicable NFPA standards and requires coordination with local emergency agencies. The subcommittee advanced AB 615 (transcript record: 10–0).

Assemblymember Tangipa described AB 738, a narrowly targeted exemption allowing homeowners rebuilding in governor-declared disaster areas to rebuild under the solar standard that applied to the original home rather than newer solar mandates, if they meet income and insurance-related eligibility criteria. Deborah Carlton of the California Apartment Association and other supporters urged the exemption to reduce rebuilding costs for underinsured households. The subcommittee moved the bill forward (transcript record: recorded during the session; motion carried).

Assemblymember Erwin presented AB 1423 to remove a prohibition on the CEC developing payment-method standards for EV chargers before 2028 and to require uptime reporting for publicly funded chargers. Erwin and industry witnesses argued that removing mandatory credit-card hardware requirements would lower upfront costs and speed charger deployment, while preserving the option for credit-card payment. Isabella Craddock of Electric Era and Rocky Fernandez of the Center for Sustainable Energy testified for stronger reporting and enforcement of charger uptime. Several charging-network companies registered initial opposition but signaled support after committee amendments that preserved credit-card payment options while allowing the CEC more flexibility. The subcommittee recorded a non-unanimous vote on that file during the hearing (transcript record shows committee votes recorded in-session).

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the subcommittee session transcript): - AB 59 (Aguirre-Curry) — grant permanent hydropower authority to Reclamation District 108 and add reporting requirement: motion to pass to the Senate Appropriations Committee — recorded in the hearing as 10–0 in subcommittee. - AB 61 (Pacheco) — require Public Advocates Office pre-vote analyses of utility cost impacts — motion to pass as amended to Appropriations — recorded as 10–0 in subcommittee. - AB 368 (Ward) — CEC one-time study comparing passive-house standards to Title 24 — motion to pass as amended to Appropriations — recorded as 10–0 in subcommittee. - AB 428 (Rubio) — allow investor-owned water utilities to join JPAs for pooled insurance with reinsurance safeguards — motion to pass to Appropriations — recorded as 10–0 in subcommittee. - AB 615 (Davies) — require emergency action/response plans for battery energy storage systems at application stage, coordinated with local agencies — motion to pass as amended to Appropriations — recorded as 10–0 in subcommittee. - AB 738 (Tangipa) — limited exemption from current solar retrofit requirements for disaster-affected homeowners meeting income and insurance criteria — motion to pass to Appropriations — vote recorded in session (motion carried; transcript records committee discussion and roll calls). - AB 1423 (Erwin) — allow earlier CEC rulemaking on payment systems for chargers, require uptime reporting for publicly funded chargers; retain credit-card option — motion to pass as amended to transportation (and later referred) — vote recorded in session; several stakeholders moved from opposition to support after committee amendments.

What happened next The subcommittee moved each bill to the next committee for consideration (Appropriations or Transportation, as noted). Sponsors and supporters said the measures aim to increase public-safety protections, improve transparency on rate impacts, lower costs for utilities and ratepayers, and speed deployment of low-emission infrastructure. Several industry witnesses asked the legislature and the CEC to account for implementation costs and operational details during subsequent reviews.

Why it matters Taken together, these measures signal the Legislature’s continued focus on energy affordability, safety and deployment logistics as California expands renewable generation, storage and electric-vehicle infrastructure. The bills would affect small water systems, reclamation districts, homeowners rebuilding after disasters, utilities and EV drivers, and will now proceed through the legislative committee process where fiscal analyses and amendments are expected.

Ending note Committee members repeatedly thanked witnesses and staff for the detailed work and signaled willingness to refine language in later committee hearings. The subcommittee adjourned after completing the roll calls and referring the measures onward for fiscal or policy review.