Committee forwards Linda Serizawa’s Public Advocate nomination after wide discussion on rates, NEM and wildfire costs

Linda Serizawa, nominee to lead the state’s Office of the Public Advocate, won committee approval to proceed to the full Senate after a broad exchange on utility affordability, Net Energy Metering rules and wildfire mitigation costs.

Serizawa told senators the office is sharpening its focus on challenging unjustified utility spending and on protecting lower‑income customers who cannot reduce electric usage for health or climate reasons. "The idea is to pull those fixed costs out of the volumetric rate and everybody pay their fair share of those fixed costs," she said, describing an approach the office has advocated that would replace a usage‑based (volumetric) structure with a separate fixed charge for system costs.

On implementation timing, Serizawa said the Public Advocate expects full utility implementation of a fixed charge by the end of the year or early next year, once utilities complete billing system changes. She said a properly structured fixed charge would lower bills for customers who cannot shift usage — for example residents in hot climate zones who rely on air conditioning.

A major portion of committee questioning focused on Net Energy Metering (NEM), the rooftop‑solar compensation program. Serizawa described the Office’s view that legacy customers enrolled under the pre‑2023 program are, in some cases, overcompensated because compensation is set at retail rates and rooftop systems in many cases paid off sooner than originally anticipated. "By our estimate, we think the burden shifted to non‑solar customers is on the order of $8,500,000,000 a year," Serizawa said, and the office favors aligning incentives more closely with system benefits. She noted legacy customers who installed before April 2023 remain in the older program and that adjustments for transfers of ownership are among the policy options under consideration.

Senators also pressed Serizawa about wildfire mitigation costs and public safety power shutoffs (PSPS). Serizawa recommended bringing long‑term wildfire mitigation spending back into the general rate case — the periodic multi‑year budget process — rather than approving recovery through separate outside proceedings. "There are seven cost recovery proceedings outside of the general rate case, five of them over a billion dollars," she said, arguing the practice can push costs into rates quickly and without the same cross‑examination of utility budgets.

Committee members asked about battery storage safety and siting. Serizawa said the Public Advocate’s office reviews utility proposals when utilities seek cost recovery at the Commission but does not itself permit sites; that permitting or siting questions often involve other agencies and local authorities. She said the office tracks PSPS reporting and performance and calls out utilities publicly when they do not meet notice or safety standards.

Public commenters included environmental and industry voices. Dawn Koepke of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance and Matt Klobenstein of Energy Source Minerals both praised Serizawa and staff for detailed engagement; Chris Rosa of NRDC testified in support. The committee accepted a motion to forward Serizawa’s nomination to the full Senate. The record closed with a 5–0 committee vote after members who had been absent returned.

If confirmed, Serizawa told senators she will continue the office’s work to scrutinize utility spending, advocate for lower bills for vulnerable customers, and press for more cost‑effective wildfire mitigation and clearer PSPS reporting.

Votes at a glance: Motion to forward Linda Serizawa’s nomination to the full Senate: motion moved on the floor of the committee; roll call recorded Maguire, Grove, Gonzales, Jones, Laird as aye; outcome approved 5–0. (See actions array for full vote record.)