Electricity.

The electrical cooperative exemption from future Public Utilities Act provisions was narrowed: the trigger date changed from 'on or after January 1, 2027' to 'after January 1, 2027,' so a provision effective exactly on January 1, 2027 would now apply to electrical cooperatives unless it expressly provides otherwise.

Section numbering in the operative text was adjusted: a standalone 'SEC. 9.' line appears before what was previously 'SEC. 9. Section 330,' which is now labeled 'SEC. 8. Section 330,' indicating sections were renumbered (likely due to an earlier section being removed or consolidated).

The legislative counsel's digest paragraphs were renumbered from (7), (8), (9) to (6), (7), (8), consistent with the section renumbering in the operative text.

The Energy Commission's public advisor is no longer required to be an attorney admitted to practice law in California. The prior version specified this qualification; it has been removed.

The reporting obligation for clean energy programs under Section 25660.2(a) now ends only when all appropriated funds have been 'expended,' removing the prior trigger of 'encumbered, expended.' This means reporting continues until money is actually spent, not merely committed.

The sunset date for the State Energy Conservation Assistance Account chapter (Section 25421) is set at January 1, 2038, extending the period during which outstanding loans can be repaid and unexpended funds managed under that chapter.

The Public Advocate's Office annual report to legislative fiscal committees is now due on or before February 1 of each year, moved from January 10.

Per the legislative digest, FERA program reporting by the state's three largest electrical corporations is moved from March 1 to May 1 each year, and PUC review of those reports is moved from June 1 to December 1 each year.

All remaining references to the Electricity Oversight Board are removed from operative text in Sections 25301(a), 25302(d), 25302(e), and 25334(c), completing the conforming changes for that board's abolition.

The bill now identifies itself as imposing a state-mandated local program (changed from 'no' to 'yes') and as making an appropriation (changed from 'no' to 'yes'), which affects fiscal analysis and potential reimbursement obligations under the California Constitution.

Per the legislative digest, the bill exempts electrical cooperatives from any provision of the Public Utilities Act that becomes effective on or after January 1, 2027, unless that provision expressly states it applies to electrical cooperatives. This is a forward-looking regulatory exemption.

The bill now amends the Public Resources Code in addition to the Public Utilities Code, adding provisions on Energy Commission public advisors, energy assessments and forecasts, integrated energy policy reports, transmission corridor zones, and clean energy program reporting.

The Electricity Oversight Board is now abolished entirely. The original bill only abolished the Power Exchange while keeping the Oversight Board to oversee the ISO. The amended version repeals all Oversight Board sections (335-341.4).

A new Public Utilities Commission Public Advocate's Office is established with a director appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, its own budget account in the General Fund, authority to compel information production from regulated entities, and a meet-and-confer requirement before filing complaints.

New reporting requirements for the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program require the Energy Commission to publish progress, status, budget, number of projects by type, number of residents receiving low- and zero-cost projects, estimated greenhouse gas reductions, and locational distribution of expenditures by county and region, starting March 1, 2027.

The Energy Conservation Assistance Act of 1979 sunset is extended from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2038, a 10-year extension that keeps its continuously appropriated accounts in operation and constitutes an appropriation.

The Public Advocate's Office annual reporting deadline is moved from January 10 to February 1. FERA enrollment reporting deadlines are moved from March 1/June 1 to May 1/December 1.

Electrical cooperatives are now exempt from any provision of the Public Utilities Act that becomes effective on or after January 1, 2027, unless that provision expressly states it applies to electrical cooperatives.

The required vote threshold changes from a simple majority to two-thirds, and the bill now constitutes an appropriation (changed from 'no' to 'yes') and imposes a state-mandated local program (changed from 'no' to 'yes').

Section 25665.7 of the Public Resources Code is repealed; its reporting requirements for the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program are folded into the broader Section 25660.2 reporting framework.

The Energy Commission public advisor requirement that the person be an attorney admitted to practice law in California is eliminated, broadening the pool of eligible candidates.