Assembly committee advances AB 1026 to set timelines, information requirements for utility energization applications

The California Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy voted to send AB 1026 to the Assembly floor as amended after testimony from housing advocates, affordable‑housing developers and investor‑owned utilities. The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Wilson, would require electric corporations to publish the information needed to approve or deny post‑entitlement “energization” applications, adopt consistent timelines for reviews and limit last‑minute changes to application requirements.

Supporters told the committee that unpredictable utility connection processes can hold approved housing projects up for months or years. Corey Smith, executive director of the Housing Action Coalition, said AB 1026 “brings parity to investor‑owned utilities” by applying standards akin to those already required of cities and counties. Kevin Ketchum, housing development director at Mission Housing, told the committee a transformer approval in San Francisco delayed rehabilitation of an affordable property by a year; another transit‑oriented 31‑unit project was delayed…