Bill
S 6200
Requires utilities to maintain a toll-free outage-reporting number, giving the public a direct, accessible line to report outages and speed response.
Purpose and intent
- S 6200 would require utility companies to maintain a toll-free number that the public can use to report service outages. The core intent is to ensure accessible, direct reporting channels for outage information and coordinated response.
Key provisions (as available)
- Mandate: Utility companies operating under the bill would be required to maintain a toll-free reporting number for outages.
- Public accessibility: The toll-free line is intended for use by customers to report service interruptions. (Details such as hours of operation, languages supported, and specific outage-reporting procedures would be defined in the bill text.)
Affected parties
- Utility companies serving customers within the state.
- The general public and utility customers who experience service outages, who would gain a directly accessible channel to report outages and seek information.
Procedural history and status
- Introduction: March 6, 2025
- Early actions: Referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications on March 6, 2025
- Reports and advancement:
- 1st Report CAL 1099 (May 13, 2025)
- 2nd Report CAL (May 14, 2025)
- Advanced to Third Reading (May 15, 2025)
- Senate action:
- Passed Senate (June 5, 2025)
- Delivered to Assembly (June 5, 2025)
- Referred to Ways and Means (June 5, 2025)
- Companion/alternative versions and substitutions:
- Substituted for A4713 (June 13, 2025)
- Ordered to Third Reading Rules CAL.716 (June 13, 2025)
- Current status: Ordered to Third Reading
Sponsors and related bills
- Primary sponsor: James Skoufis
- Co-sponsors: Shelley Mayer, Robert Jackson, Steve Rhoads, Pamela Helming
- Related/companion bills: A 4713 (companion in the Assembly)
- Related Senate/Assembly actions from prior sessions: S 8894, S 927, S 7490 (prior-session references)
Potential impact and considerations
- Public safety and service reliability: By providing a dedicated toll-free outage reporting line, the bill could improve customer access to outage information and potentially speed up outage reporting and response.
- Compliance and costs for utilities: Utilities would incur costs to establish/maintain the toll-free line and ensure it is staffed and monitored; implementation timelines and specific service-level requirements would be defined in the final text.
- Fiscal and administrative implications: A formal fiscal note would typically accompany final consideration to assess any budgetary impact on utilities and state resources.
Next steps
- If enacted, the bill would proceed to final legislative steps as determined by Assembly consideration and potential reconciliation with any amendments from the companion bill.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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