Bill Text: CA SB559 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Electricity: deenergization events: communications.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-21 - From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23. [SB559 Detail]
Download: California-2025-SB559-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 559
| Introduced by Senator Stern |
February 20, 2025 |
An act to add Section 8386.7 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to electricity.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 559, as introduced, Stern.
Electricity: deenergization events: communications.
Existing law requires each electrical corporation to annually prepare a wildfire mitigation plan and to submit the plan to the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety for review and approval, as specified. Existing law requires a wildfire mitigation plan of an electrical corporation to include, among other things, protocols for deenergizing portions of the electrical distribution system that consider the associated impacts on public safety, and protocols related to mitigating the public safety impacts of those protocols, including impacts on critical first responders and on health and communications infrastructure. Existing law requires a wildfire mitigation plan of an electrical corporation to also include appropriate and feasible procedures for notifying a customer who may be impacted by the deenergizing of electrical lines and requires these procedures to consider the need to notify, as
a priority, critical first responders, health care facilities, and operators of telecommunications infrastructure with premises within the footprint of a potential deenergization event.
This bill would require, at the start of a deenergization event, an electrical corporation to immediately notify local emergency management organizations and local utility districts about the impacts of the deenergization, as specified. The bill would require detailed status information on restoration efforts to be made available to emergency management organizations, public safety officials, customers, and the public in real-time, with regular progress updates issued at intervals of no more than 12 hours, for all impacted circuits, as specified. The bill would require, at the start of a deenergization event, an electrical corporation to publish and make available real-time weather conditions observed within the affected circuit being considered for deenergization, as provided. Once
hazardous weather conditions subside, the bill would require an electrical corporation to prioritize the restoration of electricity and begin efforts to reenergize lines without unnecessary delays. The bill would make electrical corporations responsible for the continual monitoring and eventual restoration of circuits affected by a deenergization event. The bill would require each electrical corporation to submit an annual report to the Public Utilities Commission that details its compliance with the transparency and restoration requirements of these provisions, as provided.
This bill would require the commission to oversee each electrical corporation’s compliance with these provisions to ensure that electrical corporations are meeting the transparency, communication, and restoration requirements. If an electrical corporation fails to comply with any of these provisions, including by failing to publish required weather data, notify public safety agencies, or meet
communication standards, the bill would authorize the commission to impose financial penalties.
Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because this bill requires action by the commission to implement its requirements, and because a violation of that action would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 8386.7 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:8386.7.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1) “Critical infrastructure” means publicly or privately owned facilities and services vital to the safety and well-being of the community, including water facilities, healthcare facilities, communications systems, emergency services, and other critical systems.
(2) “Deenergization” means the action taken by an electrical corporation to turn off electricity to specific areas or circuits in response to conditions that could lead to wildfire risk.
(3) “Deenergization event” means a planned electricity outage initiated by an electrical corporation to
reduce the risk of wildfire during extreme weather conditions, such as high winds, dry conditions, or other hazardous factors.
(4) “Weather data” means real-time weather conditions observed by an electrical corporation at the time of deenergization, including wind speed, wind gust speed, relative humidity, and temperature.
(b) (1) At the start of a deenergization event an electrical corporation shall immediately notify local emergency management organizations and local utility districts about the impacts of the deenergization. The notification shall include the following information:
(A) The specific critical facilities impacted, including healthcare facilities, water treatment facilities, communications towers, and other public safety infrastructure.
(B) An assessment of the potential risks posed to public health, safety, and emergency response capabilities resulting from the loss of electricity at those critical facilities.
(2) The electrical corporation shall maintain direct lines of communication with public safety agencies to ensure the timely sharing of updates regarding restoration efforts and any damage or other issues affecting all areas.
(3) During a deenergization event the electrical corporation shall work jointly with local emergency management agencies to establish restoration priorities. Priority shall be given to circuits that contain a high number of critical facilities.
(c) Detailed status information on restoration efforts shall be made available to emergency management organizations,
public safety officials, customers, and the public in real-time, with regular progress updates issued at intervals of no more than 12 hours, for all impacted circuits. This information shall include when the circuit is scheduled for inspection, anticipated restoration date and time, and any adverse findings discovered during the inspection process that may delay the restoration process.
(d) (1) At the start of a deenergization event, an electrical corporation shall publish and make available real-time weather conditions observed within the affected circuit being considered for deenergization. This weather data shall be included within the notices provided pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c). The data shall include all of the following information:
(A) The sustained wind speed in miles per hour (mph).
(B) The maximum wind gust speed in miles per hour (mph).
(C) The measured percentage of relative humidity in the affected area.
(D) The recorded temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
(2) Throughout the course of a deenergization event an electrical corporation shall publish and make available data, including the real-time weather conditions observed within the affected circuit pursuant to paragraph (1). This information shall be updated on an hourly basis and used to substantiate the ongoing need for continued deenergization.
(3) The data published pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be made publicly available on the electrical corporation’s internet website, mobile applications, and other communication channels and shall be
accessible in real-time.
(e) (1) Once hazardous weather conditions subside, the electrical corporation shall prioritize the restoration of electricity and begin efforts to reenergize lines without unnecessary delays. The electrical corporation shall ensure that restoration is carried out as quickly and safely as possible, taking into consideration the safety of the electrical corporation’s crews and affected communities.
(2) The electrical corporation shall be responsible for the continual monitoring and eventual restoration of circuits affected by a deenergization event. Using real-time weather monitoring technology, an electrical corporation shall be responsible for initiating the inspection and restoration process as soon as the observed weather conditions permit.
(3) The primary factor used
to evaluate eligibility for reenergization for circuits shall be real-time weather and the inspection of the circuit by electrical corporation personnel.
(4) Inspection of circuits deenergized due to a deenergization event shall commence within four hours of windspeeds falling below 25 mph and wind gusts not exceeding 40 mph.
(f) (1) Each electrical corporation shall annually submit a report to the commission detailing its compliance with the transparency and restoration requirements of this section. The report shall include all of the following:
(A) The number of deenergization events activated in the previous year.
(B) The timeliness and accuracy of weather data publishing.
(C) The extent of communications with customers and public safety agencies.
(D) The restoration timelines and any issues encountered during the restoration process.
(2) The annual reports provided pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made publicly available by the commission and the electrical corporation to ensure transparency for stakeholders and the public.
(g) The commission shall oversee each electrical corporation’s compliance with this section to ensure that electrical corporations are meeting its transparency, communication, and restoration requirements. The commission shall assess whether an electrical corporation is effectively implementing real-time weather reporting, notifying public safety agencies, and providing timely and accurate restoration information.
(h) If an electrical corporation fails to comply with any provision of this section, including failure to publish required weather data, notify public safety agencies, or meet communication standards, the commission may impose financial penalties.
