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SB 924

Low-income energy assistance.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Melissa Hurtado

CPUC weatherization programs must prioritize measurable bill savings, health and safety benefits, whole-home energy improvements, and tenant-level outcomes for low-income household

June 24 hearing postponed by committee.
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Bill Summary · SB 924

Summary of SB 924 (2025-2026) — Low-income energy assistance (California)

Main purpose and intent

  • The bill amends the Public Utilities Code to strengthen and reorganize how the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) administers weatherization and other low-income energy efficiency measures.
  • It aims to improve affordability, health and safety, equity, and resilience in home energy programs by prioritizing measurable household outcomes and integrating cross-fuel, cross-housing-type delivery.
  • The Legislature intends to promote flexible program design, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and stronger accountability for program results, while ensuring costs do not unduly burden ratepayers.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Priorities and design of weatherization programs (Section 2790)

    • CPUC must require electrical and gas corporations to perform home weatherization for low-income customers where a need exists, considering overall cost-effectiveness and hardship reduction.
    • Must prioritize the following, while preserving program design flexibility:
      • Measurable improvements in household affordability (including bill savings) and positive health, safety, and quality-of-life impacts.
      • Integration of health, safety, and indoor air quality measures to enable whole-home improvements.
      • Coordinated delivery across fuel types, housing types, conditions, and tenancy structures.
      • Tenant-level benefits where upgrades occur in rental properties.
    • The CPUC may consider non-energy benefits when setting design priorities.
    • Weatherization should maximize efficiency and be guided by a needs assessment.

  2. Public input and contracting (Sections 2790 and related)

    • Programs must solicit public input on design and implementation.
    • Ensure that weatherization costs do not unduly burden ratepayers; expansion of income eligibility should not automatically increase authorized Energy Savings Assistance Program budgets.
    • Require reporting on measurable household affordability outcomes (disaggregated by housing type and tenancy status) in line with the needs assessment.
    • Emphasize meaningful public and stakeholder input, including collaboration with community-based organizations and the Low-Income Oversight Board.

  3. Diverse and local contracting (Section 2790(h))

    • Priority for participation by California-based small business enterprises, minority-owned, women-owned, and disabled veteran-owned business enterprises in program delivery and contracting.
    • Program administrators must ensure contracting processes provide meaningful, competitive access and avoid structures that unduly favor large or vertically integrated firms.
    • Competitive bidding and state procurement laws apply where relevant.

  4. Definitions and scope (Section 2790 and Section 382.1 cross-reference)

    • Defines key terms: “low-income customers” (income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level) and “weatherization” (potentially including attic insulation, air infiltration measures, water heating tech, minor repairs, high-efficiency appliances, HVAC, heat pumps, energy management tech, and related measures).
    • Clarifies that weatherization may include broader building conservation measures and energy education programs as feasible and cost-effective.

  5. Weatherization in rental housing

    • Emphasizes program designs that provide tenant-level benefits where upgrades occur in rental properties, with flexibility to accommodate various tenancy arrangements.

  6. Non-energy benefits and health/safety focus

    • Allows consideration of non-energy benefits (e.g., health and safety improvements) in program design and prioritization.

  7. Reimbursement and fiscal notes

    • The act states that no reimbursement is required for local agencies for the mandated costs beyond what the constitution requires when a crime/penalty change occurs (i.e., standard state-mandated local program language).

Who would be affected

  • Electrical and gas corporations operating in California (e.g., investor-owned utilities and public utilities subject to CPUC oversight).
  • Low-income households eligible for weatherization and energy efficiency services.
  • California-based small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, and disabled veteran-owned enterprises involved in program delivery and contracting.
  • Community organizations and the Low-Income Oversight Board involved in planning, design, and oversight of programs.
  • Tenants in rental housing may see renter-specific benefits from upgrades.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill was amended and moved through the legislative process during the 2025-2026 session, with a noted history:
    • Introduced January 28, 2026, sponsored by Senator Hurtado (co-sponsor Melissa Hurtado).
    • Passed in committee and progressed through the Senate, with amendments, and later referred to Assembly; multiple hearings and votes noted.
    • Action history shows activity through mid-2026, including amendments, readings, and committee actions.
  • The bill includes standard statutory language indicating no local reimbursement requirements beyond what is constitutionally mandated.

Practical implications

  • If enacted, CPUC would tighten goals for weatherization programs to deliver durable bill savings, health and safety improvements, and broader quality-of-life benefits.
  • Programs would be designed with greater input from the public and stakeholders, and procurement would emphasize diversity and inclusion of California-based small and disadvantaged-business enterprises.
  • There could be expanded reporting requirements to quantify affordability outcomes by housing type and tenancy status, enabling more accountable performance tracking.

Note: This summary reflects the bill text and the accompanying Legislative Counsel’s Digest as of the amendments noted, focusing on substantive provisions, impacts, and timelines.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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