Bill
AB 1410
AB 1410 requires California utilities to automatically enroll customers in outage alerts, improving communication and service reliability while allowing opt-out options.
Bill Number: AB 1410
Introduced: February 21, 2025
Status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 396, Statutes of 2025
Author: Assemblymember Garcia
Subject: Utilities, alerts, service outages and updates
AB 1410 aims to enhance communication between utility companies and their customers regarding service outages and updates. The bill mandates that utilities automatically enroll customers in alert systems to keep them informed about service disruptions.
Automatic Enrollment:
Each electrical corporation, gas corporation, water corporation, and local publicly owned electric utility must automatically enroll its customers in alerts for service outages and updates by March 1, 2026.
Opt-Out Option:
Customers will have the opportunity to opt out of any alerts they do not wish to receive, except for essential notifications that are mandatory.
Annual Information Updates:
Utilities are required to provide annual information on customer bills detailing how to update preferred contact methods. Customers can also update their contact information via the utility’s website or, if feasible, by telephone.
Implementation Timeline for Local Utilities:
Local publicly owned electric utilities lacking the necessary systems must develop feasible procedures for automatic enrollment by March 1, 2026. If they cannot implement the requirements by this date, they must create a plan by March 1, 2028, to upgrade their systems, with implementation by March 1, 2030, if deemed cost-effective.
Affected Entities:
The bill affects all electrical corporations, gas corporations, water corporations, and local publicly owned electric utilities in California. It aims to improve customer communication and service reliability.
State-Mandated Local Program:
The bill imposes new duties on local publicly owned electric utilities, which qualifies it as a state-mandated local program. However, it specifies that no reimbursement is required for local agencies or school districts under certain conditions, such as the ability to levy service charges to cover costs.
AB 1410 represents a significant step towards improving customer engagement and communication in the utilities sector. By mandating automatic enrollment in outage alerts and providing customers with easy access to update their contact information, the bill seeks to enhance the overall customer experience during service disruptions.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
