Action needed now:

AB 710 requires complete deployment of AMI/Smart Meters for local publicly owned electrical utilities “where feasible”

AB-710 Local publicly owned electric utilities: advanced metering infrastructure (Irwin)
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB710

The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications committee will hear the bill on June 8.
https://seuc.senate.ca.gov/committeehome

Opposition statements must be sent in by June 2 at noon.

>>>> What does “complete advanced metering infrastructure deployment” mean?
>>>> The bill says “to all customers”. Will the bill block opt-outs and disabled accommodations, which would be unlawful?
>>>> “Where feasible” is the phrase qualifying deployment, but this bill could be amended to remove that. It was last amended May 21.

Please oppose this bill and contact your senators and assemblymembers. Since it was amended in the Senate, it will have to go back to the Assembly for approval. Please contact them all now.

Bill Summary

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations, while local publicly owned electric utilities are under the direction of their governing boards.

This bill would require the governing board of each local publicly owned electric utility, on or before January 1, 2028, to analyze the feasibility of deploying advanced metering infrastructure to all customers. Based on that analysis, the bill would require each electrical corporation and the governing board of each local publicly owned electric utility, on or before January 1, 2029, to develop a plan for complete advanced metering infrastructure deployment, where feasible

Text:

SECTION 1. Part 3 (commencing with Section 9530) is added to Division 4.8 of the Public Utilities Code, to read:

PART 3. Advanced Metering Infrastructure
9530.
For purposes of this part, “local publicly owned electric utility” has the same meaning as defined in Section 224.3.
9531.
(a) On or before January 1, 2028, the governing board of each local publicly owned electric utility shall analyze the feasibility of deploying advanced metering infrastructure to all customers.
(b) Based on the analysis completed pursuant to paragraph (1), subdivision (a) on or before January 1, 2029, the governing board of each local publicly owned electric utility shall develop a plan for complete advanced metering infrastructure deployment, where feasible.

SEC. 2.
 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.