Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the Powering Up Californians Act, removing a crucial barrier to achieving California’s climate, air quality, and equity goals. The Act aims to expedite the electrification of vehicles and buildings by upgrading the electric distribution system and reducing connection times to the grid.

California has made substantial progress in clean energy, with 60 percent of its electricity coming from renewable sources. However, delays in electrifying buildings and establishing EV charging stations hinder efforts to combat air pollution. The cause of these delays includes a shortage of transformers, workforce challenges, and inefficient processes.

The Powering Up Californians Act, or Senate Bill 410 (SB-410), addresses these issues by:

1. Setting deadlines for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to establish target energization timelines.
2. Requiring utilities to train and hire the necessary workforce for electrification.
3. Aligning utility planning and investment with decarbonization and air quality goals.
4. Allowing utilities to make investments consistent with state laws and regulations, with cost recovery between rate cases.

The Act has received broad support from environmental, public health, equity, and industry organizations. It passed the California State Assembly with a bipartisan vote.

Importantly, SB-410 is not expected to increase electric rates, as it ensures that utilities make investments that align with state and federal laws. In fact, electrifying transportation and buildings can lead to rate reductions by improving grid utilization and redirecting funds from multinational oil companies.

This legislation is a significant step towards a more sustainable and cleaner future for California, creating jobs, reducing air pollution, and stabilizing energy costs.

Source: nrdc.org