Transcript Highlights:

• More carbon than a lot of utilities in this state.
• distinction from a small utility grid becomes blurry.
• Employees, but it was not considered utility power.
• utilities provide reliable service and maintain their infrastructure, and balancing utility company
• One of those, and because the public utilities can no longer find, The public utilities can no longer

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And actually, utilities have somewhat in the past on occasion done this.
• to utilize this tool.
• And actually, utilities that question.
• make it more clear and allow the utility make it more clear and allow the utility to<00:03:45.680
• This is if that sir their utility rate.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 SB 172 Discussion 00:10 SB 172 Roll Call Vote 06:52, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum to consider Senate Bill 172, which would address utility fuel adjustment charges and include an emergency clause. The sponsor, Senator Philip Wheeler, explained that the bill is intended to give the Public Service Commission another tool to help consumers by allowing fuel costs from recent winter storm spikes to be spread over several months instead of being collected all at once. He emphasized that the bill does not eliminate the fuel adjustment clause or reduce the total amount owed, but is meant to ease the immediate burden on households facing large charges. Members asked about how the bill would work and whether other entities, such as the PSC or Attorney General, could already do something similar. Wheeler said utilities have sometimes done this in the past, but the bill would make the process clearer and more usable, especially for investor-owned utilities, and the emergency clause is needed so utilities can request the relief in time for the current situation. Representative Fugate clarified for the public that the bill would not raise rates, but would simply spread a charge like $100 over multiple months. Representative Smith raised a separate issue about a different co-op charge, and Wheeler said that was outside the scope of the bill but reflected a broader need to give the PSC consumer-friendly tools. The committee then took a roll call vote and reported the bill favorably for passage on the House floor. The motion passed with broad support, with Representative Chester-Burton passing and Representative Watkins voting present. The chair also announced that the committee would not meet again that Thursday and would have no further meetings that week.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
• And number two: high utility capital expenditures on infrastructure.
• Because that's how utilities make money.
• That basic concept applies to utilities.
• This bill reads as if a few utility lobbyists This bill reads as if a few utility lobbyists got together

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of late-file energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on battery storage siting, gas system expansion, propane consumer protections, gas workforce safety, and a Taunton home-rule petition on water rates for manufactured housing communities. Representative Sweeney urged support for H. 4689 and H. 4690, which would impose a moratorium and setback requirements for lithium battery storage facilities, citing fire risk, proximity to homes, and environmental concerns. Several local officials and residents from Oakham, Tewksbury, and other communities described proposed battery projects near homes, schools, wetlands, and conservation land, while industry and clean-energy advocates argued the bills would effectively block storage development and conflict with state energy goals and existing fire-safety standards. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2290/H. 3547, a bill to prevent gas expansion near environmental justice communities, from environmental justice advocates, municipal officials, and clean-energy groups. Testimony emphasized rising gas bills, the cost of new pipelines, methane and health impacts, and the need to avoid locking in long-term gas infrastructure costs. Witnesses also discussed related bills on gas workforce safety, gas shut-off valves, and gas meter replacement plans, with labor representatives supporting safety-focused measures and opposing changes they said would weaken inspections, while consumer and environmental advocates argued that some utility replacement practices are unnecessarily expensive and should be reined in to reduce ratepayer costs. Other testimony included support for H. 3518 on propane gas ratepayer protections, with the witness arguing for clearer contract terms and website price disclosure, and support for S. 2652, which would authorize Taunton to create a separate water billing rate for manufactured housing communities because residents there are effectively paying higher water costs through rent due to a single master meter. No committee votes or final actions were taken during the hearing, and members mostly asked brief clarifying questions or made no comment after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• companies, utilize if left to their own devices to provide dispatchable power?
• It was every utility that came through said they would support this.
• Because they are not utilities, Because they are not utilities, they are unregulated by the Public Regulation
• customers, ship those costs directly to utility customers.
• microgrids from buying power from a utility.

Bills: SB78, SB235, SB22, SB310

Keywords: nuclear energy, renewable energy, sustainability, carbon emissions, energy regulation, microgrid, zero carbon resources, Public Regulation Commission, energy generation, electric utilities, motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County

Transcript Highlights:

• Was it about the utility tax?
• They also with regulated utilities.
• > in this legislation that every utility in this legislation that every utility has<00:21:50.400>
• We do agree that utility<00:29:48.960> rates<00:29:49.520> uh<00:29:49.760> utility<
• /c><00:29:50.159> companies<00:29:51.039> will utility rates uh utility companies will

Bills: HB403, HB399, HB392

Keywords: criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, data privacy, criminal justice, Lamar County, property auction, county commission, online auction, public notice, HB392, Lauderdale County, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, district attorney, chief assistant district attorney, assistant district attorney, assistant district attorneys, prosecutor, prosecutorial compensation, salary supplement

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows public utilities to build thermal energy networks if they so choose and to rate recover for
• And finally, I want to thank our labor and utility partners for all of the time and expertise they gave
• partners for all of the time and utility partners for all of the time and<00:02:34.040> expertise
• The DE reflects intent by allowing a natural gas utility the ability to offer a TENS.
• The DE reflects intent by allowing a natural gas utility the ability to offer a TENS.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4122, and Representative Halons moved that the bill be laid over for possible inclusion. The committee first adopted the DE3 author’s amendment without objection. Halons explained that the bill, developed through the Thermal Energy Network Deployment Work Group and extensive stakeholder negotiations, would allow public utilities to build thermal energy networks and recover costs, while keeping the projects under Public Utility Commission oversight similar to electric and natural gas services. He noted a small technical correction may still be needed in the cost recovery language. Testimony was uniformly supportive. Aurora Vautrin of 100% Campaign said the bill advances Minnesota’s leadership on thermal energy networks and thanked the authors, work group, labor, and utility partners. Jamie Fitzke of CenterPoint Energy described the company’s planned thermal energy network pilot as part of the 2021 Natural Gas Innovation Act framework, emphasizing that the technology is promising but still new, especially in Minnesota’s extreme cold climate, and that the amended bill reflects substantial compromise and preserves PUC oversight and customer protections. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA supported the bill as a way to create jobs and use existing labor skills from gas, water, and related infrastructure work, while also noting that geothermal cost and drilling challenges remain. Committee members expressed enthusiasm for the proposal and its potential to make Minnesota a leader in thermal energy networks. In closing, Halons said the bill had gone through many iterations and acknowledged the compromise language, but stressed that it is a major step because it explicitly authorizes utilities to build TENS and rate recover, creating a foundation for future utility planning. The bill was then laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilities and eliminates liability from the utilities.
• One of the utility systems to join them.
• Those are the utilities. So I'll use investor and utilities. And co-ops that participated in green.
• Third, you brought up biomass utilization.
• So in terms of utilities, you know, as I'll just say, I'm representing all the utilities here today,

Transcript Highlights:

• If they can look at those details, Where are the utilities? Who are our utility companies?
• One of the things that I always say about utilities is if you don't manage utilities, your utilities
• Your utilities will manage you.
• utility.
• Until the utility bill came in, and then they find it. But how much utility waste was recognized?

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Deputy Executive Director of the Public Utility Commission.
• When a utility comes in for a rate case adjustment, the utility and industries have the resources and
• Non-opt-in entities like municipally owned utilities do 4CP response.
• ramped up spending on resilience as utilities have across the state.
• Things that the utility builds that are just to serve me are direct costs.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thomas Gleason, Chairman of Public Utility Commission of Texas.
• And if the utility fails to execute their plan.
• A pole inspection plan is just, uh, whatever the given utility wants it to be.
• So when, when, uh, utility voluntarily enters into a pole inspection program.
• That's the Public Utility commission keeps that list.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Yes. >> Senator yields. >> You mentioned utility bills And people's concerns over them.
• What proposals are out there that are being negotiated to help lower people's utility bills?
• And if we just stop them from going forward, we'd significantly reduce the rate of growth of utility
• And if we just stop them from going forward, we'd significantly reduce the rate of growth of utility
• And if we just stop them from going forward, we'd significantly reduce the rate of growth of utility

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and then took up a Rules Committee report advancing several bills directly to third reading, including Senate Print 9630, an appropriations extender for government operations, and Senate Print 9631, an extender related to Part U1 of Chapter 61 of the Laws of 2023. The chamber then moved to the controversial calendar and debated the first extender, with Senator O’Mara questioning what the bill covered, how much funding it extended, and the status of budget negotiations. Senator Krueger said the extender covered about $1 billion for payroll and certain payments for agencies including Health, Law, OPWDD, and Veterans Services through April 7, and described the budget talks as still unresolved, with no announced follow-up Joint Budget Conference Committee meetings or table targets. She also discussed utility affordability proposals, including a three-year moratorium on A.I. and crypto data/storage facilities and support for green energy and low-income ratepayer relief. O’Mara argued the lack of urgency and absence of written proposals on climate and utility costs was concerning. Both extender bills were then passed, with the first receiving 59 ayes and the second passing 46-13 after debate over its two-year duration. The Senate then adopted the resolution calendar, excluding two items initially, and took up two resolutions. Resolution 1821, sponsored by Senator Ramos, recognized Farmworkers Day and highlighted the essential role of farmworkers, the history of organizing for farmworker rights, and concerns about immigrant workers facing fear and retaliation; Senator May added support, noting the importance of farm labor to dairy production and food supply and the impact of deportation fears on farms in her district. The resolution was adopted. Resolution 1823, sponsored by Senator Zellner, proclaimed March 20, 2026 as Behavior Analysis Day in New York, recognizing applied behavior analysis and its benefits for individuals with developmental disabilities, autism, education, healthcare, and other fields; it was also adopted. The chamber also welcomed a group of students from Queens visiting Albany, with Senator Comrie speaking about the importance of civics education and government engagement. After the introductions and acknowledgments, there was no further business, and the Senate adjourned until Wednesday, April 1, at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it requires an electronic positive response from utility operators when underground utilities
• First, it requires an electronic positive response from utility operators when underground utilities
• request is submitted, then the utilities request is submitted, then the utilities respond<00:10:
• <00:12:38.120> modifying act relating to utilities modifying act relating to utilities modifying
• municipal public utilities commissions. municipal public utilities commissions.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met under call, established a quorum, and adopted the printed committee reports, except those relating to Senate Concurrent Resolution 6. It then gave second reading to Senate File 4282 and several House files, and later handled motions including re-referring Senate File 4634 from Jobs and Economic Development to Taxes. The chamber also designated special orders for immediate consideration. On special order, Senate File 4339, relating to the excavation notice system and utility locating, was presented as a safe-digging measure requiring electronic positive responses from utility operators and updated contact information for locators. The bill was read a third time and passed 64-0. The Senate then took up House File 3718, which modernizes the Board of Veterinary Medicine, updates definitions and licensing rules, expands scope of practice and telemedicine provisions, changes board composition, and adds a background check requirement; after questions from Senator Green about the bill’s sponsor, background checks, and board size, it passed 52-13. The Senate next considered Senate File 4455, concerning the Lake City and Red Wing port authorities. An A2 amendment was adopted to address municipal public utilities commission voter ratification language, and the bill as amended passed 65-0. The session ended with announcements, including a lighthearted note about “Steak on a Stick Eve,” excusing Senators Webber and Miller, and adjournment until Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We call the electric utilities, or the utilities now, perhaps soon to be the electric utilities only,
• Yeah, I'll let the utilities answer in their own way of what they do.
• But we have contracts with all of the utilities across Massachusetts.
• The utilities are delegating the important questions of granular...
• This idea of the utility...

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on the value of Mass Save, with opening remarks emphasizing that despite past criticisms the program has delivered major energy, cost, climate, and equity benefits. The chair cited large avoided system costs, strong benefit-cost ratios, and recent legislative changes that set emissions goals, restricted fossil-fuel equipment incentives, and increased focus on low- and moderate-income households. Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney testified that Mass Save has weatherized hundreds of thousands of homes, reduced bills, avoided emissions, and that the current plan includes budget controls after the DPU ordered $500 million removed from the approved budget. She said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer the program was intended to reduce administrative costs and align with current implementation trends. Members questioned Mahoney about what counts as marketing and administration, and she said the category includes traditional advertising as well as community-based outreach, customer resource centers, and other customer engagement work, much of it in low- and moderate-income communities. She said administrative and marketing costs are under 5% of the budget, while more than 80% goes to incentives and direct program delivery. Several witnesses then focused on workforce and contractor impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, creates careers, and supports thousands of jobs; both warned that budget cuts would reduce hiring, training, and work in homes and businesses. They also described a broad ecosystem of suppliers, trainers, and service providers that depends on stable program funding. Other witnesses addressed cost-effectiveness, affordability, and emissions. Anna Johnson of ACEEE said Massachusetts remains a national leader, with Mass Save returning about $2.80 per dollar invested, reducing peak demand, and lowering bills for participants, especially through weatherization and heat pumps. Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said the program is statutorily required to be cost-effective and has avoided billions in supply and infrastructure costs for all ratepayers, including nonparticipants, by lowering overall demand and peak prices. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that efficiency is the cheapest way to meet climate targets and that cutting the budget would force more expensive power generation. The hearing also featured testimony on equity and housing: Mary Wampo described historic under-service to renter-heavy and lower-income communities and said recent reforms, including designated equity communities and performance incentives tied to equity, are helping correct that imbalance; Brian Biot and James Collins of LEAN/ABCD described low-income delivery systems and wraparound services; Barney Heath and John Nannari said Mass Save incentives are essential to affordable housing, passive house construction, and keeping projects on time and on budget. The final witnesses highlighted Connected Solutions and electrification: Sunrun’s Bronte Payne said the virtual power plant program saved more than it cost and helps avoid peaker plants and grid upgrades, and Highland Electric Fleets’ Ben Sondaga said electric school buses can provide similar grid benefits while lowering transportation costs for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have double-digit growth starting in 2023, from 58% up to 67% utilization, up to 75% utilization.
• So 98% penetration, 75% utilization.
• If it's our product, I'm very confident it's getting full utilization.
• So we have 98% deployment, 75% utilization. Okay, 75%.
• You know, one of the things that I look at is utilization and the vulnerability within the utilization

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Cybersecurity and the Assembly Committee on Emergency Management held a joint informational hearing focused on maximizing the value of state cybersecurity investments, especially by fully using security features already included in existing vendor contracts. The first panel included representatives from Microsoft, Zscaler, and Palo Alto Networks, who described the products and services they provide to California and generally agreed that agencies often have strong adoption in some areas but still face challenges from tool overlap, limited staff, lack of awareness of available features, and the need for ongoing training and configuration support. They also discussed major threats such as ransomware, data loss, attack-surface exposure, IoT/OT vulnerabilities, and the growing role of AI in both attacks and defenses. Members pressed the vendors on whether state departments underuse purchased cybersecurity tools, how to improve utilization, and how to address the cybersecurity workforce shortage. The vendors said utilization is often constrained by staffing, procurement complexity, and the need to align tools with agency missions and maturity levels, but emphasized that training, leadership buy-in, and regular vendor-agency collaboration can improve results. They also discussed how AI can help with phishing triage, data-loss prevention, and security operations, while warning that agencies must manage AI safely and with human oversight. The second panel featured officials from the Department of Technology, Cal OES/CalSIC, and the California Military Department. They described statewide oversight efforts including audits, independent security assessments, continuous monitoring, advisory services, vulnerability disclosure programs, and workforce development initiatives such as the Information Security Leadership Academy and Cybersecurity Education Summit. Officials said some underutilization is real, but it is often tied to differing agency maturity, overlapping tools, and deliberate feature restrictions to reduce attack surface and complexity; they emphasized a balanced approach using people, process, and technology, with plans of action and milestones to hold departments accountable. They also noted federal uncertainty around MS-ISAC and the state and local cybersecurity grant program, saying California is advocating through federal partners and monitoring the impact. The hearing ended after public comment and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• authorize uh the Public Utilities authorize uh the Public Utilities Commission<00:09:06.079>
• <00:12:02.040> would utilities and then the utilities would utilities and then the utilities
• Financial impact on electric utilities Financial impact on electric utilities uh<01:04:56.400>
• renumeration to to make the utility renumeration to to make the utility whole<01:05:38.160> for
• envisions all the power being utilized envisions all the power being utilized on<02:02:44.840>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of adjudicating compliance with utility of adjudicating compliance with utility regulation<00:07
• application made by a regulated utility application made by a regulated utility uh<00:23:21.039>
• approach in US utility approach in US utility regulation<00:27:35.960> to<00:27:36.240>
• case would be the public the utility case would be the public the utility were<00:38:26.440>
• The utility property tax is still going to be paid by utilities and those who own utility property, and

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the red block you see on the left is utility-scale solar; utility-scale wind can still apply for those
• structure for utilities.
• Is to expand the utility cost test.
• So right now by statute, the PRC, when a utility comes to them asking if a cost is reasonable, the utility
• We balance the utility influence.

Transcript Highlights:

• Utility affordability is going to be so important moving forward.
• Utility affordability is going to be so important moving forward.
• It's based off of your utility.
• Thomas Gleason, Chairman, Public Utility Commission of Texas.
• CenterPoint, but all the utilities understand that.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Nominations held its final nomination hearing of the session and considered three nominees: J.B. Goodwin for the Texas Real Estate Commission, Courtney Yaltman for the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and Thomas Gleason as PUC chairman. Goodwin described his long career in real estate and charitable work, and senators questioned him extensively about the Real Estate Commission’s self-directed, semi-independent status, housing affordability, institutional homebuyers, property insurance costs, disclosure issues, and the Burnett v. National Association of Realtors case. Yaltman and Gleason were questioned about PUC oversight of ERCOT, post-Winter Storm Uri reforms, utility resilience and vegetation management after Hurricane Beryl, water and telecommunications oversight, staffing and transparency, and rising infrastructure and utility costs. Much of the discussion focused on housing and utility affordability, with several senators urging the nominees to keep consumer protection and public trust at the forefront. Goodwin said housing affordability and large-scale investment purchases were not within the Real Estate Commission’s direct purview, though he supported further study. Yaltman and Gleason said the PUC had increased oversight of ERCOT, improved communication and accountability with utilities, and was working on resiliency plans, rate-setting issues, and infrastructure planning while trying to avoid overburdening ratepayers. The committee first voted to favorably report nominees left pending from the May 5 agenda by a 6-0 roll call vote. After public testimony was opened and closed, the committee then voted on the nominees heard that day and favorably recommended all three to the full Senate for confirmation by a 7-0 vote. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• you consult with the Public Utilities you consult with the Public Utilities Commission,<00:08:08.000
• the transition from the public utilities the transition from the public utilities the<00:12:10.160
• clearing house. the all the utilities clearing house. the all the utilities collect<00:12:31.839
• uh the public utilities commission and utilities<00:42:55.920> operating<00:42:56.319> in
• utilities? I don't see how this works. utilities? I don't see how this works.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, in the ECO program, a utility like ours and any other utility in the state needs to show savings
• If set operation increased the utilities If set operation increased the utilities base<00:03:01.280
• <00:04:53.919> like uh in the eco program a utility like uh in the eco program a utility like
• <00:18:37.679> that is significant for a large utility that is significant for a large utility
• impact on a smaller utility impact on a smaller utility and<00:18:46.480> that's<00:18:46.640

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 3296, as amended, was heard in committee and laid over. The bill would extend an existing exemption in Minnesota’s energy conservation/efficiency program calculations so that certain data centers, like crypto-based data mining operations, would not be counted in a utility’s gross annual retail sales if the new load increases the utility’s base load by 40% or more. Representative Gilman and testifier David Meyer of Glenco Light and Power argued the change is needed because large data loads can make the 1.5% annual savings target effectively unattainable for smaller municipal utilities, and they said the added revenue from the facility has helped lower rates for other customers. Ken Sulum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association supported the bill, describing it as narrowly drafted to address mid-sized data centers that do not fit other relief provisions but still create local utility problems. Sarah Wolf of Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light opposed the exemption, arguing that energy efficiency remains important amid rising demand and grid stress from data centers, and that large users should continue contributing to efficiency efforts rather than being exempted. Members raised questions about whether the facility had a long-term contract, whether the customer was helping lower rates, and how much savings were being passed on to ratepayers. Meyer said the customer had a three-year agreement extended another three years, the infrastructure costs were borne by the customer, and the facility’s revenue has allowed Glenco to reduce rates by about half a cent per kilowatt hour through a $40,000 monthly buy-down of its power cost adjustment. Some members expressed concern that data centers should continue to improve efficiency over time, while others noted the bill’s focus on smaller utilities facing disproportionate impacts.