Electrical corporations and gas corporations: rate recovery: political activities and promotional advertising.
- Prohibits utilities from charging ratepayers for political activities and promotional advertising expenses.
- Requires utilities to clearly disclose whether shareholders or ratepayers are funding their advertising.
- Mandates annual public reporting of political and promotional spending starting April 2026.
- Establishes penalties up to $10,000 per violation for utilities that improperly charge ratepayers.
Assembly Members Berman and Addis have proposed new restrictions on how California's electrical and gas corporations can allocate expenses for political activities and promotional advertising, particularly regarding costs passed on to ratepayers. The legislation establishes clear boundaries between shareholder-funded and ratepayer-funded expenses while implementing new transparency requirements.
The bill prohibits utilities from charging ratepayers for several categories of expenses, including political influence activities, promotional advertising, trade association dues supporting political activities, and charitable contributions. It defines political influence activities as efforts to affect legislation, regulations, elections, or public opinion. The measure creates exceptions for required public safety messages, emergency notifications, and labor relations activities permitted under federal law.
Under the new requirements, utilities must clearly disclose in all advertising whether shareholders or ratepayers are funding the costs. Starting April 2026, utilities must submit annual reports detailing expenses related to political activities and promotional advertising, including employee compensation, vendor costs, and participation in regulatory proceedings. The Public Utilities Commission will make these reports publicly available while protecting confidential information. Violations can result in civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, with each day of non-compliance counting as a separate violation after a 30-day correction period.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
 Jacqui IrwinD Assembly Member | Committee Member |  Not Contacted | |
 Benjamin AllenD Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
 Ash KalraD Assembly Member | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
 Phillip ChenR Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Marc BermanD Assembly Member | Bill Author | Not Contacted |
- Prohibits utilities from charging ratepayers for political activities and promotional advertising expenses.
- Requires utilities to clearly disclose whether shareholders or ratepayers are funding their advertising.
- Mandates annual public reporting of political and promotional spending starting April 2026.
- Establishes penalties up to $10,000 per violation for utilities that improperly charge ratepayers.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Assembly Members Berman and Addis have proposed new restrictions on how California's electrical and gas corporations can allocate expenses for political activities and promotional advertising, particularly regarding costs passed on to ratepayers. The legislation establishes clear boundaries between shareholder-funded and ratepayer-funded expenses while implementing new transparency requirements.
The bill prohibits utilities from charging ratepayers for several categories of expenses, including political influence activities, promotional advertising, trade association dues supporting political activities, and charitable contributions. It defines political influence activities as efforts to affect legislation, regulations, elections, or public opinion. The measure creates exceptions for required public safety messages, emergency notifications, and labor relations activities permitted under federal law.
Under the new requirements, utilities must clearly disclose in all advertising whether shareholders or ratepayers are funding the costs. Starting April 2026, utilities must submit annual reports detailing expenses related to political activities and promotional advertising, including employee compensation, vendor costs, and participation in regulatory proceedings. The Public Utilities Commission will make these reports publicly available while protecting confidential information. Violations can result in civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, with each day of non-compliance counting as a separate violation after a 30-day correction period.
Jacqui IrwinD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Benjamin AllenD Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Ash KalraD Assembly Member | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Phillip ChenR Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Marc BermanD Assembly Member | Bill Author | Not Contacted |