California legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California SB1359: Natural Gas Ratepayer Protection Act.
Status: Chaptered, September 30, 2026
What the bill says
An act to add the heading of Article 1 (commencing with Section 328) to, and to add Article 2 (commencing with Section 329) to, Chapter 2.2 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to natural gas. natural gas Natural Gas Ratepayer Protection Act. Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable…
From the chaptered text, September 30, 2026:
An act to add the heading of Article 1 (commencing with Section 328) to, and to add Article 2 (commencing with Section 329) to, Chapter 2.2 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to natural gas. natural gas Natural Gas Ratepayer Protection Act. Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires, until at least December 31, 2029, each gas corporation to submit to the commission a map that includes, among other things, the location of all potential gas distribution line replacement projects identified in its distribution integrity management plan and any foreseeable gas distribution pipeline replacements, as provided. This bill would require each gas corporation to submit an annual report to the commission that describes its expenditures associated with gas distribution infrastructure replacement and upgrade projects, as provided. The bill would require the commission, as part of its long-term gas planning rulemaking or a successor proceeding, to consider a framework for the depreciation of gas distribution infrastructure that reflects reasonably foreseeable changes in gas demand and is designed to minimize future ratepayer exposure to stranded asset costs, and …