The Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee advanced SB 327 on June 10, sending forward a proposal that would expand the Public Advocates Office’s authority to obtain information from investor-owned utilities and prohibit those utilities from using ratepayer money to lobby against municipal utilities.
According to a summary of the hearing, the committee approved the bill on an 8-1 vote that was later updated to 8-0 after one member changed from no to not voting. The summary said the measure, carried by Sen. McNerney, is aimed at utility political spending tied to public-power fights and would give the Public Advocates Office broader access to utility accounts and records.
Supporters argued that Californians should not be paying for utility efforts to oppose city-run alternatives. Testimony in favor came from California Environmental Voters and Public Advocates, among others, while the California Chamber of Commerce opposed the bill unless amended, according to the hearing materials.
The committee action is the latest step in a broader debate over municipalization and utility accountability. The bill now moves on in the legislative process after clearing the Assembly committee.
The hearing summary also noted that the transcript was noisy and that the final amended bill language was not fully reflected in the summary.
