Assemblymember Irwin pushes AB 710 to unlock utility circuit data for community microgrids

Assemblymember Irwin presented AB 710 to the Senate subcommittee, saying the bill would require investor-owned utilities to identify critical circuits and provide distribution and circuit data so local governments, tribes and community choice aggregators can evaluate and plan community microgrids. "Communities across my district, Ventura and LA Counties, have been experiencing devastating wildfires and recurring power safety power shut offs," Irwin said, citing CPUC data showing a sharp rise in affected people.

Supporters said improved data sharing is critical to build resilience around PSPS events. Jordan Wells of the California State Association of Counties told the committee that early coordination with utilities and access to feeder constraints, protection requirements and planned upgrades is vital to assess feasibility and costs for microgrids. "Early communication and coordination with the utility is critical," Wells said. John Kennedy of RCRC described near-miss emergency impacts — including a threatened evacuation tied to outages — to underline local urgency.

Utilities raised security and privacy concerns. Valerie Turla of Pacific Gas and Electric said PG&E is not opposed to microgrids but warned the bill could create a parallel process and expose highly sensitive distribution and physical-security information. "We are worried about, as we explained in our letter, with broad access to highly sensitive information," Turla said, and asked for amendments excluding federally protected physical and cybersecurity infrastructure from disclosure. Israel Salas of San Diego Gas & Electric also flagged privacy language but said amendments in committee could address many concerns.

Committee members pressed on practicability and scope. Senators asked whether existing utility portals provide the granular distribution data communities need and whether protections for sensitive infrastructure could be clarified in amendments. Irwin and witnesses agreed to narrow language and preserve existing privacy and grid-security laws while making data sharing durable to support microgrid deployment. The committee held the bill for a later roll-call; a motion was made and the item was put on call pending absent members.

What happens next: The committee accepted that amendments are likely to narrow data disclosures and explicitly exclude federally protected infrastructure; sponsors asked for an "I" vote when amendments are in print and the item returned to the floor for final action.