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Bill

AB 615

Power facilities: emergency response and action plans.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Laurie Davies and 2 co-sponsors

AB 615 requires California power facilities to develop emergency response and action plans for outages and grid failures, but was vetoed by the Governor with override consideration pending.

Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
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Bill Summary · AB 615

Legislative bill overview

AB 615 establishes mandatory emergency response and action plans for power facilities in California, requiring operators to develop protocols for managing outages, grid failures, and related emergencies. The bill passed both chambers with unanimous support but was vetoed by the Governor on October 6, 2025, with a veto override consideration currently pending.

Why is this important

California faces increasing risks from extreme weather, wildfires, and aging infrastructure that threaten grid reliability. Clear emergency protocols at power facilities could reduce response times, minimize service disruption, and protect public safety during critical infrastructure failures—issues that have become more urgent as the state experiences frequent widespread blackouts and power shutdowns.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost burden: Requiring comprehensive emergency planning may impose significant compliance and operational costs on utilities and power operators, potentially affecting consumer rates
  • Regulatory scope: Unclear how the mandates would apply across different facility types (solar, wind, hydroelectric, traditional plants) and whether standards are uniform or differentiated
  • Governor's specific concerns: The veto rationale was not detailed in the provided information, but typically involves questions about state versus federal jurisdiction, existing regulatory redundancy, or implementation feasibility

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

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