Video & Transcript Research : 'ratepayers'
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Jun 10th, 2026
Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 327 is a ratepayer protection bill that is closely modeled off SB 24, which previously passed this
- Many ratepayers are desperate to find a less expensive alternative to the for-profit model.
- It simply prohibits their using ratepayer dollars to do so.
- dollar is used responsibly and appropriately, not against the interests of ratepayers.
- And so it is definitely for the ratepayer themselves. Yeah.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard several bills focused on utility affordability, transparency, and clean energy. SB 327 would bar investor-owned utilities from using ratepayer funds to oppose municipal utility formation and would clarify the Public Advocates Office’s authority to inspect utility books; supporters framed it as a ratepayer protection measure, while utilities and telecom/broadband interests opposed it unless amended, citing concerns about scope and participation in regulatory proceedings. After questions about how it differed from AB 1167 and how PAO discovery disputes are handled, the committee passed SB 327 as amended to Appropriations on an 11-2 vote, later reopening the roll to 12-2.
SB 1350 would allow renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen, with the author and supporters emphasizing hydrogen’s role in decarbonization, grid reliability, jobs, and the Lancaster/ARCHES project. Environmental groups opposed the bill unless amended, warning about NOx emissions, paper transactions, and the need for stronger safeguards on hydrogen sourcing and delivery. The committee discussed amendments, including a minimum 20% hydrogen blend and emissions-related guardrails, and passed the bill to Natural Resources on a 14-0 vote, later reopening the roll to 18-0.
SB 868, the Plug and Play Solar Act, would create a framework for small plug-in balcony solar devices for renters and others without rooftop solar access, while setting safety standards and limiting system size. Supporters said it would lower bills and expand access to solar; utilities and some public power entities raised safety and backfeed concerns, arguing interconnection review under Rule 21 remains necessary. After extensive discussion of safety, certification, and export limits, the committee passed SB 868 as amended to Appropriations on a 17-0 vote, later reopening the roll to 18-0. SB 1233, a transparency bill requiring additional disclosure about utility cash on hand, capital structure, and related reporting, drew utility opposition over duplicative processes and possible delays, but was passed as amended to Appropriations on a 10-3 vote, later reopened to 11-3. The committee also approved the consent calendar unanimously and adjourned after reopening the rolls for absent members to add on.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Jun 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Many ratepayers are desperate to find a less expensive alternative to the for-profit model.
- It simply prohibits them from using ratepayer dollars to do so.
- dollar is used responsibly and appropriately, not against the interests of ratepayers.
- In a time of real uncertainty about skyrocketing costs, we want ratepayers to be confident.
- So it is definitely for the ratepayer themselves.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard several bills focused on utility affordability, transparency, clean energy, and consumer access. SB 327 would bar investor-owned utilities from using ratepayer funds to oppose municipal utility formation and would clarify the Public Advocates Office’s authority to inspect utility books; supporters framed it as a ratepayer protection and accountability measure, while utilities and industry groups raised concerns about municipalization language and data-request procedures. After discussion about the scope of the bill and existing guardrails from prior legislation, the committee voted SB 327 out on a due pass as amended basis to Appropriations, with the roll left open and later updated to 12-2.
SB 1350, a hydrogen bill, would allow renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen in turbines. The author and supporters said it would help California meet clean energy goals, support the Lancaster hydrogen project, and create jobs, while opponents, especially environmental groups, warned about NOx emissions, the risk of paper transactions, and the need for stronger safeguards on feedstocks and delivery. Members discussed amendments already taken and the need for continued work on environmental protections; the committee passed the bill 14-0 to Natural Resources.
SB 868 would create a framework for plug-in or balcony solar devices for renters and others without rooftop solar, with safety standards and a cap on system size. Supporters said it would lower bills and expand access to solar, while utilities and some others raised safety and backfeed concerns and asked for more review through existing interconnection processes. The author and witnesses said the devices are small, non-exporting, and covered by safety certifications; the committee approved the bill 17-0, later updated to 18-0, and sent it to Appropriations.
SB 1233 would require additional disclosure about utility cash on hand, capital structure, and related information in existing reports to help inform rates and affordability. Utilities opposed the measure as duplicative of existing proceedings and potentially delay-inducing, while supporters said it would improve transparency for ratepayers. The committee passed SB 1233 10-3 to Appropriations. The committee also dispensed with the consent calendar, passing the remaining consent items, including SB 925, SB 667, SB 952, SB 742, SB 929, SB 943, and SB 1138, and noted that SB 905 had been pulled from the agenda.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Session Mar 13th, 2026 at 10:19 am
West Virginia Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- are proportionate to or less than the benefits that the ratepayers are likely to receive.
- Me included, all of us in here as ratepayers, we're getting killed with high utility bills.
- There's one project that... ...us benefit to the West Virginia ratepayers.
- , not ratepayers in other states, West Virginia ratepayers, and put it in writing so that we can see.
- burden onto West Virginia taxpayers and ratepayers unless we benefit from it.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Business and Commerce Mar 25th, 2025 at 08:00 am
Business & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm just never, I mean, like again, I've been—you're going to see I'm trying to help the ratepayer out
- And I'm not talking about the... ...true-up, that the ratepayer is at the heart of what we're seeing
- They're recovered from the ratepayers over about a two-year amortization period.
- Or a MOU, a municipally owned utility, the ratepayers and the stockholders are the same.
- And the municipally owned utility is owned by the ratepayers. So, I mean, I'm just curious.
Bills:
SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977
Keywords:
utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness
Summary:
The Senate Business and Commerce Committee met with a quorum and first took up pending business, voting out several bills. Senate Bills 1697, 1569, 1202 as substituted, 1029, 1364, 1185, 924, 1008 as substituted, 264, 1376, and 1358 as substituted were reported favorably, with some sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a substitute for SB 1202 and later corrected votes on several measures. SB 924 and SB 1376 drew some opposition, while the rest of the pending bills were reported without dissent or with limited nays.
The committee then heard testimony on SB 1856, which would create an annual capacity-cost recovery rider for Entergy Texas customers in the MISO region. The author and Entergy argued the bill would better match rates to actual capacity costs and improve transparency, while the Texas Association of Manufacturers and the Public Utility Commission raised concerns about the short 10-day review period, rider proliferation, and the preference for full rate cases over piecemeal adjustments. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 522 on CPA reciprocity, SB 1664 requiring TDUs to provide clearer, standalone rate-change disclosures, SB 1877 expanding OPUC’s access to market data, SB 1254 and SB 1255 as TDLR cleanup bills on professional employer organizations and mold assessors, SB 1341 updating manufactured housing rules, SB 1239 on sovereign debt and Texas governing law, and SB 1259 streamlining the surveyor-in-training licensing process.
Additional bills discussed included SB 1977, which would cap recoverable legal expenses in electric, water, and sewer rate cases; OPUC and some consumer advocates supported the idea as a way to reduce ratepayer costs, while utility representatives warned it could discourage participation and increase rate shock. The committee also heard SB 1762 clarifying that geothermal energy conservation wells are not battery resources, and SB 783 allowing SECO to proceed with future energy-code rulemaking for state-funded buildings. Both drew supportive testimony from industry and environmental groups. All remaining bills heard during the meeting were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Energy, Industry and Mining in Session Mar 12th, 2026 at 10:28 am
Energy, Industry and Mining
Transcript Highlights:
- unless it finds, based upon a preponderance of the evidence, that the costs assigned to the ratepayers
- Based upon a preponderance of the evidence that the costs assigned to the ratepayers are proportionate
- to or less than the benefits the ratepayers will likely receive.
- is at least generally commensurate with the benefits that will be received by West Virginia ratepayers
- the benefits to the ratepayers.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/26/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources & Energy. (3-4-26)
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a very expensive and inefficient means, which causes additional cost to the ratepayers.
- as a part of the cost for the ratepayer as a part of the cost for the new<00:18:23.960>
purchaser - ,<00:37:55.400>
to represent residential ratepayers, to represent residential ratepayers, - And we represent advocates who represent residential ratepayers in PSC proceedings. Very good.
- <01:01:12.800>
there participation as a ratepayer there participation as a ratepayer there
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:38
SB 213 Discussion 00:01:23
SB 213 Roll Call Vote 00:20:45
SB 8 Discussion 00:26:23
SB 8 Roll Call Vote 00:58:16, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and first heard Senate Bill 213 from Senator Phillip Wheeler. He described the bill as a response to rising electric bills, especially in Eastern Kentucky, and said it would give the Public Service Commission more tools to push utilities toward least-cost planning, require stronger integrated resource plans, and address utility service territories, utility sales, and generation contracts. He argued that monopoly service territories are privileges granted by the Commonwealth, not irrevocable rights, and said the bill would help prevent ratepayers from bearing the cost of poor utility decisions or sale premiums. He also said the bill would allow large new loads, such as data centers, to choose alternative power sources in certain areas to encourage economic development.
Members asked questions about how the bill would work, especially the section stating that service territory rights belong to the Commonwealth and the provision dealing with utility sale premiums. Senator Wheeler explained that if a utility is sold at a premium, that premium should not simply be passed on to customers, and he said the bill aims to reduce costs for ratepayers and create more competition. Several members spoke in support of the bill’s goals while noting the complexity of utility regulation. Senator West said some companies had not been responsive to concerns about rates, Senator Williams said he would pass but wanted utilities to have enough generation to serve Kentucky users, and Chair Smith said the bill was a smart approach within the legislature’s limited authority. The committee then voted to report Senate Bill 213 favorably with the expression that the same shall pass.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 8 from Senator Brandon Smith, which would modernize the Public Service Commission. He said the bill and committee substitute were intended to help the PSC handle increasingly complex utility regulation, infrastructure investment, and rate cases by expanding the commission from three to five members, with three gubernatorial appointees and two appointed by the Auditor of Public Accounts. He also said the bill would adjust the threshold for PSC review of electric transmission construction from one mile to five miles, to reduce delays while preserving oversight of major projects, and would update appointment terms and other language in the substitute. Smith said the changes were meant to improve staffing and expertise at the PSC and speed transmission buildout. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final vote on Senate Bill 8 appears in the provided excerpt.
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Natural Resources & Energy Committee Meeting Jun 24th, 2026
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- only source of revenue is our ratepayers, our Delawareans who are paying their bills.
- Yes, it's to balance the interests of ratepayers and the company.
- The average ratepayer save. So it will grow over time because what you're... No, no.
- So the first year the average ratepayer would save about $5. $5 for the year. How much?
- So my question is, in the last five months, the average ratepayer has seen...
Bills:
SB287
Keywords:
solid waste, recycling, universal recycling, single-stream recycling, multifamily housing, apartment recycling, commercial recycling, waste diversion, recycling grants, low-interest loans, Delaware Recycling Fund, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, DNREC, waste hauler, curbside recycling, yard waste, source-separated recycling, pay-as-you-throw, extended producer responsibility, waste bans
Summary:
The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and considered three Senate bills. SB 287 with Senate Amendment 2, a DNREC cleanup bill on recycling, would tighten recycling collection rules for haulers and commercial generators, require multifamily recycling education, repurpose the Delaware Recycling Fund, and add annual reporting; after brief questions and no public comment, the committee motion to release did not initially receive enough votes, so the bill was circulated for signatures. SB 346, which would speed Environmental Appeals Board hearing and decision timelines so DNREC secretary decisions become final if deadlines are missed, drew support from the Nature Conservancy and also failed to get enough votes at the meeting, so it too was circulated for signatures. The committee then took up SB 326, a major utility-regulation bill sponsored by Senator Hanson and Representative Heffernan that would cap certain non-mandatory utility spending, limit interim rates, increase oversight and transparency, and streamline rate-setting.
SB 326 generated extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the Public Advocate, Sierra Club, PSC staff, and some legislators, argued that Delmarva Power’s spending on non-mandatory infrastructure has risen far faster than inflation, that the company is a regulated monopoly, and that the bill would help restrain future delivery-rate increases without harming reliability because mandatory reliability, storm response, and vegetation management spending would remain allowed. Opponents, including Delmarva Power, business groups, contractors, labor representatives, and the Delaware Contractors Association, argued the cap would delay needed reliability and capacity projects, hurt economic development, reduce jobs, and interfere with utility planning; they also said supply costs, not distribution spending, are the main driver of recent bill increases. After public comment and additional questioning, the committee voted to release SB 326 on a split roll call, but because several members were absent the bill was also walked for additional signatures. The committee then adjourned.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (03/05/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- They do not equate with what's good for the ratepayers.
- They do not equate with what's good for the ratepayers.
- They do not equate with what's good for the ratepayers.
- Equate with what's good for the ratepayers.
- It will be detrimental to New Hampshire ratepayers.
Summary:
The hearing focused on House Bill 610, which would fold the Office of the Consumer Advocate into the Department of Energy rather than fully eliminate consumer advocacy functions. The prime sponsor argued the current office is small, funded by a special assessment on ratepayers, and duplicative of DOE work. He said moving the function to DOE would streamline energy policy review, reduce bureaucracy, and better focus the larger agency on lowering residential energy costs. He also disputed claims that the Consumer Advocate is independent, saying the office is appointed through a political process similar to DOE leadership.
Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would actually relocate existing positions or replace them, and whether the Department of Energy would absorb the cost of the transferred staff. The sponsor said the fiscal note shows roughly a million-dollar reduction in both revenue assessment and spending, and that the bill would effectively reduce the office from five positions to three. He also defended his cost estimates for energy-code-related housing impacts and said the Consumer Advocate has sometimes supported policies he считает increase costs, such as energy-efficiency measures and building code changes. He argued the office should focus more on energy supply and generation, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than efficiency alone.
Representative Wendy Thomas testified in opposition, saying the Consumer Advocate is an important, fair, and impartial voice for ratepayers and warning that the bill was fiscally irresponsible because the incumbent could still be owed salary and benefits if the office were repealed. She also said the bill’s drafting was confusing and that the Consumer Advocate’s role is to push back on utilities on behalf of consumers. Other members raised questions about whether the DOE would simply inherit the same political appointment structure and whether the bill would meaningfully lower bills. No vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair indicated additional testimony would follow, and the Department of Energy was present to answer questions.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 04/20/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- President, utilities must implement plans for data center growth at the cost of ratepayers as well?
- prepare for data center growth reduce the cost for ratepayers?
- >> For ratepayers. >> Through you, Mr.
- That's a lot of the concerns of ratepayers across the state of New York.
- Any business or any system operating at 50% efficiency is not good for ratepayers or taxpayers.
Summary:
The Senate opened with routine formalities, approved the journal, welcomed a SkillsUSA student delegation, and then moved into budget and policy business. The chamber accepted a Rules Committee report and took up a supplemental budget extender, Senate Print 9963, which would extend state operations through April 22 and authorize $12.7 billion, including about $5.1 billion in new funding for Medicaid, payroll, and school aid. Senator O’Mara questioned the delay in the budget, the lack of public detail, and unresolved issues such as CLCPA changes, auto insurance, and SEQR reforms; the sponsor said negotiations were ongoing and that school aid would likely build on the executive budget. The extender passed 57-1, with Senator Weik voting no.
The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 1887, sponsored by Senator Brisport, memorializing the Governor to proclaim April 2026 as Arab American Heritage Month. Senators Brisport, Fahy, Salazar, and Gounardes spoke in support, emphasizing Arab Americans’ cultural, civic, and economic contributions in New York and condemning anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias. The resolution was adopted by voice vote and opened for co-sponsorship.
The chamber next considered several bills on the calendar, including a bill by Senator Cleare to prohibit state-chartered financial institutions from investing in private correctional facilities. Supporters framed it as a moral response to private prisons and rising federal use of detention facilities, while opponents argued it would overregulate state-chartered banks and affect private investment decisions. The bill passed 36-22. The Senate also passed a bill by Senator Krueger raising the nonprofit lobbying disclosure threshold from $5,000 to $10,000, after debate over transparency and whether the change would reduce oversight; it passed 35-23. Finally, the Senate passed Senator May’s bill on advanced transmission technologies and utility planning, after extensive debate over ratepayer costs, battery storage, and data center growth; supporters said it could lower energy costs through more efficient grid use, while opponents said it would raise rates and duplicate existing studies. The bill passed after being restored to the non-controversial calendar.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 27 Mar 23rd, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, House Bill 2992 is the Data Center Ratepayer Protection Act.
- Ratepayers through higher utility rates. But for adoption, you're for questions.
- costs being passed on to those ratepayers.
- But it's great to hear that they have no intent of passing those costs on to the ratepayers.
- We need to provide protections in state statute to protect our ratepayers from Having to pay for those
Bills:
HB2059, HB3920, HB2992, HB3267, HB4457, HB3800, HB3818, HB4425, HB4427, HB4430, HB4431, HB4333, HB4340, HB4343, HB4344, HB4363, HB4229, HB4230, HB4236, HB4246, HB1979, HB3431, HB3052, HB3047, HB3048, HB4092, HB4302, HB3261, HB3704, HB3312, HB3546, HB3849, HCR1021, HB4105, HB4159, HB4304, HB3835, HB3619, HB4490, HB3710, HB4201, HB3907, HB3748
Keywords:
health care, medication, inmates, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, reimbursement, county jails, medical expenses, sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, procurement, transplant research, Oklahoma Tax Code, HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I've been trying to help the ratepayer out there. That's what I'm for right now.
- If there's been an over-recovery, they are supposed to be returned to ratepayers.
- He's a really good member to look at because he, too, is for the ratepayers and making sure that I'm
- These are operating costs because we have an obligation to serve ratepayers and to provide them with
- And the municipally owned utility is owned by the ratepayers. So, I mean, I'm just curious.
Bills:
SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977
Keywords:
utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Jun 24th, 2026
Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Not letting these resources compete would be a wasted opportunity to save ratepayers money.
- Not letting these resources compete would be a wasted opportunity to save ratepayers money.
- Therefore, there's not a ratepayer impact with regard to this bill, which I think is very significant
- And we’re going to make sure that ratepayers aren’t left holding the bag.
- We've been fighting to protect ratepayers from high utility bills for just over 50 years.
PA
Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Jun 25 2026)
Pennsylvania Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Sure, we'll save ratepayers some dollars... So we all know June 30th is a deadline, right?
- Sure, we'll save ratepayers some dollars... ...save ratepayers some dollars a month, depending on their
- That will protect ratepayers.
- . ...are bringing their own power to the conversation, so we are able to protect ratepayers.
- , the individual ratepayers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Summary:
The Senate returned from recess and first handled routine calendar matters, laying several bills on the table or over in their order without objection. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 1400, which addresses sentencing for second-degree murder in response to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Commonwealth v. Lee decision. Senator Street offered an amendment to replace mandatory life without parole with parole eligibility after 25 years and individualized review, but the Senate tabled the amendment by a 26-24 roll call. The bill then advanced to final passage after extended debate over whether it adequately met the court’s constitutional ruling and how it would affect victims, culpability, and retroactivity. It initially passed 31-19, then after reconsideration and a correction to one member’s vote, passed 30-20 and was sent to the House.
The Senate next considered Senate Bill 1212, which tightens the handling of sexual assault evidence kits by removing discretionary language that had contributed to inconsistent testing practices. Supporters said it would improve statewide consistency, preserve a survivor’s right to decline testing, and help reduce the rape kit backlog. The bill passed unanimously, 50-0, and was sent to the House. The chamber then moved through additional calendar items, including re-referrals of several House bills to Appropriations and multiple bills being passed over.
Later, the Senate took up House Bill 1667 on a supplemental calendar after suspending the rules. The bill became the vehicle for several amendments tied to affordability and tax policy. Senators adopted a back-to-school sales tax holiday amendment, a data-center tax exemption repeal amendment, and a school-choice-related amendment transferring EITC provisions and increasing scholarships by $25 million. Other proposed amendments, including a digital advertising tax and a combined reporting corporate tax reform, were tabled. After further debate on the bill’s impact on electric bills, data centers, and the state budget, House Bill 1667 was agreed to as amended and the Senate recessed.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Energy and Natural Resources (03/11/2025)
Energy and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- If the goal is to advocate for ratepayers, the appropriate venues are FERC and ISO New England, where
- If the goal is to advocate for ratepayers, the appropriate venues are FERC and ISO New England, where
- If the goal is to advocate for ratepayers, the appropriate venues are FERC and ISO New England, where
- If the goal is to advocate for ratepayers, the appropriate venues are FERC and ISO New England, where
- If the goal is to advocate for ratepayers, the appropriate venues are FERC and ISO New England, where
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So our current ratepayers aren't aren't having to shoulder that financial burden.
- And the opportunity for individual ratepayers to participate is guaranteed.
- And again, that is to the, to your point of it not being On the ratepayers.
- You know, ratepayer participation, the amount of ratepayer, um, protests.
- And these costs are real and the investor-owned utilities can only charge ratepayers.
Keywords:
water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Jun 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Not letting these resources compete would be a wasted opportunity to save ratepayers money.
- Therefore, there's not a ratepayer impact with regard to this bill, which I think is very significant
- It simply requires an apples-to-apples evaluation before ratepayers are locked in to decades of cost
- The costs associated with this energy and infrastructure are being passed down to ordinary ratepayers
- sure that ratepayers aren’t left holding the bag, full stop, Vice Chair.
Summary:
The committee first heard SB 804, the Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act, from Senator Arreguín. He said the bill would designate the State Fire Marshal as the safety regulator for intrastate hydrogen pipelines and require hydrogen-specific standards, while not mandating any pipeline construction or bypassing environmental review. Supporters included labor groups, utility employees, and the City of Burbank, while Air Products opposed unless amended, citing concerns about the bill’s specificity, fee structure, and the need for a hydrogen-specific rulemaking process. The committee discussed safety, fees, and regulatory certainty, and later passed SB 804 on a 9-0 vote to Emergency Management with commitment to take amendments.
The committee then took up SB 905 by Senator Becker, aimed at reducing electricity rates by changing utility incentives. The bill would tie part of executive compensation to keeping rates below inflation, require more performance metrics, and allow the CPUC to consider lower returns on equity for certain lower-risk investments and alternative financing options. Support came from consumer, environmental, agricultural, and large energy user groups, while Southern California Edison, CalChamber, PG&E, and utility labor groups raised concerns that the bill could reduce investment, create regulatory uncertainty, and raise borrowing costs. After extensive discussion about utility affordability, wildfire costs, and capital markets, the committee passed SB 905 on a 7-1 vote to Appropriations.
SB 913, also by Senator Becker, would create a clearer pathway for distributed energy resources such as batteries and smart thermostats to participate in the resource adequacy market and compete with utility-scale resources. Supporters said the bill would better use existing grid capacity, lower costs, and build on the state’s Demand Side Grid Support Program; PG&E opposed unless amended, saying the use case was not yet proven and was already being addressed in other rulemakings. After the committee accepted amendments, one opposition group moved to neutral and another said it might do so after reviewing the changes. The bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call.
Several other measures were heard and advanced, including SB 1196 on faster utility hookups for small energization projects such as ADUs and EV chargers, SB 931 reauthorizing the Diablo Canyon Essential Services Mitigation Fund through 2028, SB 1158 reducing the frequency of joint reliability assessments from quarterly to twice yearly, and SB 1245 directing further study of California’s gasoline market and potential use of non-CARBOB fuel during supply disruptions. SB 1196 and SB 931 both passed with broad support and no opposition after amendments, SB 1158 passed without testimony, and SB 1245 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates but opposition from fuel industry and business groups concerned about costs, confidentiality, and fuel standards.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Feb 10th, 2026 at 08:32 am
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- explain the math to me: how won't there be an increase to current ratepayers?
- To current ratepayers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Representative.
- In that way, it creates savings for every ratepayer and not Just ratepayers who have these devices.
- So savings that would accrue to all ratepayers in New Mexico.
- So the virtual power plant, Other ratepayers on the grid.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- . ...district in Jefferson County's financial position or its ratepayers.
- What would be the impact on the ratepayers if Crystal City is your water supplier? I do not.
- I am also a ratepayer in District 12.
- All the operating capital comes from the ratepayers in that area. Correct. Correct.
- To my knowledge, bonding is something you take to your ratepayers, and you put it on a ballot.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/18/26
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:09:06.840>
of the benefit financially to ratepayers of the benefit financially to ratepayers - And there's a ratepayer benefit. Macalester pays Xcel Energy bills.
- And there's a ratepayer benefit. And there's a ratepayer benefit.
- No, but I have had to the ratepayers?
- <01:09:08.280>
money, it, uh, is, uh, Xcel ratepayer money, it, uh, is, uh, Xcel ratepayer