California Assembly Bill AB2476

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/26
• Refer: 3/9/26
• Report Pass: 4/23/26
• Refer: 4/28/26
• Report Pass: 5/6/26
• Engrossed: 5/14/26
• Refer: 5/14/26
• Refer: 5/27/26
• Report Pass: 6/9/26
• Refer: 6/9/26

Caption

An act to amend Section 454.52 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to electricity.

Summary

AB 2476 amends Section 454.52 of the Public Utilities Code, which governs California’s integrated resource planning process for load-serving entities such as investor-owned utilities, community choice aggregators, electric service providers, and certain electrical cooperatives. The bill preserves the existing framework requiring these entities to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets, procure renewable energy, maintain reliability, minimize ratepayer impacts, and plan across short-, mid-, and long-term horizons. It also retains the Public Utilities Commission’s authority to review plans, require procurement of specific resource types, and enforce compliance. The substantive change made by the bill is narrow but important: it expands the Department of Water Resources’ authority to procure resources from certain pumped hydroelectric facilities. Under current law, that authority applies only to pumped hydro facilities of 500 megawatts or less that were directly appropriated state funding before January 1, 2023. AB 2476 would also allow procurement from a pumped hydro facility that is exempt from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensing, removing the prior state-funding prerequisite for that category of project. The bill continues to limit procurement to resources that support state clean-energy goals and do not increase dependence on fossil fuels.

Impact

The bill would amend a single statute, Public Utilities Code Section 454.52, by broadening the eligibility criteria for pumped hydroelectric resources that the Department of Water Resources may procure through its central procurement function. In practical terms, it could open the door for additional pumped storage projects to participate in state-backed procurement if they are FERC-licensing-exempt and meet the existing size limit and other clean-energy requirements. The bill does not alter the broader integrated resource planning obligations of load-serving entities, but it may affect which long-duration storage projects can be considered in state procurement and planning.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests strong support and little opposition. The bill passed the Assembly committee vote 18-0 on April 22, 2026, with a do-pass recommendation and referral to Appropriations, indicating bipartisan or near-unanimous agreement at that stage. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader controversy. The bill’s movement to second reading and third reading also suggests it was advancing smoothly through the legislative process.

Contention

Because the bill is narrowly focused, the main point of potential contention is likely the expansion of state procurement authority for pumped hydroelectric facilities. Supporters would likely view the change as a way to increase long-duration energy storage options and improve grid reliability without increasing fossil fuel dependence. Any concerns would likely center on whether expanding eligibility could increase costs, alter procurement competition, or favor specific storage projects over other clean-energy resources. However, the vote record provided does not show active opposition, and no transcript evidence identifies specific dissenting arguments.