{"id":2072872,"date":"2023-10-19T10:46:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T14:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-california-law-targets-lengthy-utility-connection-delays\/"},"modified":"2023-10-19T10:50:42","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T14:50:42","slug":"new-california-law-targets-lengthy-utility-connection-delays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-california-law-targets-lengthy-utility-connection-delays\/","title":{"rendered":"California&#8217;s new law tackles long utility connection delays."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-california-law-targets-lengthy-utility-connection-delays%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2072872&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>A New Law in California \u200bAims to Expedite \u200cElectricity Connections for Developers<\/h2>\n<p>A new law signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom on October 7th seeks to address the lengthy wait times \u2062that developers and \u200dbuilders\u2062 face when connecting new housing or commercial sites to electricity. The law, known as\u2063 Assembly Bill (AB) 50, was authored by Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) after hearing numerous complaints from builders\u2062 in his district about the extended delays in obtaining electricity connections.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI began this journey into the causes of power connection delays after hearing about an alarming number of residential and commercial projects in my district that were ready to\u2062 turn on \u2064the lights only to be \u2064told they\u2019d have to wait, not\u200b just days but months and even\u200c years longer to actually get electricity,&#8221; Mr. Wood said in a statement on October 8th. &#8220;These customers thought they had received a promise \u2013 a \u2018will serve\u2019 letter \u200c\u2013 from the utility that they would be ready, but we soon discovered it wasn\u2019t just in \u200cthe district I represent; it was happening statewide.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/pges-plan-to-bury-power-lines-prevent-wildfires-faces-opposition-due-to-high-rates-5511734?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>PG&#038;E&#8217;s Plan to Bury Power Lines, Prevent Wildfires Faces Opposition Due to High Rates<\/strong><\/a>  \u200c &#8211; Published on 10\/17\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-awarded-1-2-billion-for-hydrogen-fuel-development-5511363?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>California Awarded \u2063$1.2 Billion for Hydrogen Fuel Development<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; Published on 10\/16\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While California is making strides in its climate action goals, Assemblyman Wood emphasizes\u200b the need for\u200c a revamp in power production \u2064and usage to meet emissions targets.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cSevere electric interconnectivity delays have become the everyday \u2064reality of utility customers in California,\u201d Mr. Wood said, according to a legislative analysis on \u2064the bill. \u201cIn just one county located\u200d in my district, over 30 customers were told they would have to wait over 10 years for their\u2064 lights \u2064to be turned on. This is \u2064unacceptable and alarming \u200dhere in California, where we have set some of \u200cthe\u2063 most ambitious \u200bclimate goals in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>According to the Construction Employers\u2019 Association, power connections for \u2062new\u2062 housing \u2064or commercial buildings \u2062in the\u2063 state have \u200drecently taken as long \u2064as 28 weeks, compared \u200cto the previous average of\u200c six\u2063 to eight weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, developers are burdened with significant planning fees after receiving eligibility letters from\u2063 utilities for electricity connections.<\/p>\n<p>Assemblyman Wood warns that if electric corporations fail to meet the state&#8217;s power demands,\u2063 achieving California&#8217;s climate, housing, and economic \u2064development goals \u2063will be impossible.<\/p>\n<p>The new law \u2062mandates the California Public Utilities Commission to establish criteria for \u2063timely electricity connections. Electric companies must submit a report to the commission by December 1, 2024,\u2064 demonstrating that 80 percent of customers who applied by January 31, 2023, have been connected.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>A file \u200dphoto of a wall power outlet. (Sophie Li\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The commission will collect information from each electric company to establish the new reporting requirements and criteria for timely connections. The law does not specify a deadline for these new requirements.<\/p>\n<p>Failure to comply with the law&#8217;s provisions will be considered a crime. The measure has garnered support from local \u200cgovernments, pro-housing organizations, environmental groups, labor unions, and ratepayer advocates due to its emphasis\u2064 on transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does AB 50 promote the use of sustainable energy\u200d alternatives by developers in California<\/h2>\n<p><span>  R-increasing problem \u2062for developers in California,\u201d\u200c Assemblyman Wood stated. \u200d\u201cThese delays not only create unnecessary financial burdens for\u200c developers, but they also hinder the state\u2019s progress in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/landmark-climate-study-says-melting-arctic-wont-lead-to-more-severe-cold-weather\/\" title=\"Landmark Climate Study Says Melting Arctic Won\u2019t Lead to More Severe Cold Weather\">reducing greenhouse gas emissions<\/a> by discouraging the use of sustainable energy alternatives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>AB 50 aims to address these delays by expediting the electricity connection process for developers. The law requires electric utilities to\u200b provide builders\u2062 with a clear timeline for connecting new housing\u2063 or commercial sites to the\u2063 grid. This timeline must be published on the utility&#8217;s website and updated quarterly \u2062to ensure transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, AB 50 sets a maximum timeframe for the completion of electricity connections. Electric utilities will now have 45 days from the date of\u200c a\u2062 complete application to approve or deny a request for a connection. If approved, the utility will then have 60 days to complete the actual connection. These timeframes are designed \u200dto prevent unnecessary delays and provide builders\u2062 with certainty \u200band predictability.<\/p>\n<p>The new law also addresses the issue of unanticipated costs associated with \u2062electricity connection. According to AB 50, electric utilities are \u2062prohibited \u200dfrom imposing fees on developers for upgrades or improvements to the grid that arise from the connection of new projects.\u2063 This provision aims to protect developers from unexpected financial\u200c burdens and promote affordable housing and commercial development in the state.<\/p>\n<p>Assemblyman \u200bWood hopes that AB 50 will encourage \u2062more developers to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-california-law-targets-lengthy-utility-connection-delays\/\" title=\"California's new law tackles long utility connection delays.\">adopt\u200c sustainable energy solutions<\/a>, \u2063such as solar power or battery storage, by removing the barriers caused by delayed electricity connections. By expediting these connections, California can \u200cfurther its efforts to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-objects-to-what-it-says-are-restrictive-federal-power-plant-goals\/\" title=\"Florida opposes federal power plant goals it deems restrictive.\">reduce\u200b greenhouse gas emissions<\/a> and meet its climate action goals.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2063need \u200dfor this law was recognized not only by Assemblyman Wood but also by various stakeholders in \u200dthe construction and development industry. The California Building Industry Association, for example, voiced support\u200d for AB 50, stating that it will help facilitate the construction of much-needed housing units in the state.<\/p>\n<p>With the signing of AB 50, California is taking a\u200d significant step towards streamlining the process of connecting \u2062new housing and commercial sites to electricity. By reducing delays and providing clear timelines, the law aims to create a more efficient and sustainable development environment in the state.<\/p>\n<p>As California continues to lead the way in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-plans-taxpayer-backed-green-giveaway-climate-change-operation-in-morocco\/\" title=\"Biden's taxpayer-funded 'green giveaway' to combat climate change in Morocco.\">green energy \u200cinitiatives<\/a>, it is essential to ensure that developers have\u200c easy access to electricity, enabling them to \u2063build homes and businesses that align with the state&#8217;s sustainability goals. AB 50 represents a positive step forward in achieving\u2062 these objectives and fostering economic growth \u2062while protecting the environment.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, Assembly Bill 50 is\u200d a crucial piece of legislation that\u200d addresses the lengthy wait\u2062 times faced by developers when connecting new housing or commercial sites \u2063to electricity in California. By expediting these connections \u200cand providing clear timelines, the law aims to promote sustainable development and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newsom-calls-for-early-end-to-californias-pricey-summer-blend-fuel-as-gas-prices-soar\/\" title=\"Newsom urges early end to costly summer fuel in California amid soaring gas prices.\">reduce greenhouse\u2063 gas emissions<\/a> in the state. This \u2064law is a significant step towards achieving California&#8217;s climate action goals\u200d and fostering economic growth in the construction and development\u200b sector.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aiming to reduce wait times for electricity connections, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Oct. 7. Assembly Bill (AB) 50, authored by Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg), addresses concerns raised by builders in Healdsburg, a small district with around 70 builders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":242,"featured_media":2072873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2072872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/242"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2072872"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072872\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2072873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2072872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2072872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2072872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}