Budget revision invests in key programs, but lacks vision that risks undermining the state’s affordability and reliability goals
SACRAMENTO, CA— In the face of rising electricity costs, growing reliability challenges, and ambitious climate goals, California needs to invest in building a more modern, flexible, and resilient electricity grid. While the May Revision to the 2025–26 state budget maintains some investments in critical programs that help ensure affordable, reliable energy, it falls short of the broader vision needed to unlock customer-driven cost-saving energy solutions, empower customers, and reduce dependence on costly, polluting resources.
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Topics:
Press Releases,
California,
Edson Perez
Judiciary Committee passes SB 540 11 to 0 vote with new amendments that further safeguard California’s clean energy leadership and consumer protections
SACRAMENTO, CA—The Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 540 by a vote of 11 to 0, advancing legislation that continues to balance diverse stakeholder priorities while creating a pathway to reliable and affordable clean energy. SB 540 creates a framework for regional energy coordination that expands clean energy deployment, preserves California’s clean energy goals, and protects state authority.
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Topics:
Press Releases,
Leah Rubin Shen,
Western RTO,
California
RTO Insider reports on the Pathways Bill, SB 540, as it advances through the Judiciary Committee with new amendments aimed at protecting California’s clean energy leadership, addressing federal overreach, and ensuring continued stakeholder engagement. United's Leah Rubin Shen voiced support of SB 540, noting that the bill balances diverse stakeholder interests while strengthening regional collaboration.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Leah Rubin Shen,
Western RTO,
California
Virtual power plant bills, Assembly Bills 740 and 44, advance in committee, now head to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the California Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee passed two bills unanimously that would encourage the use of cleaner, faster, and more affordable power to meet the state's peak electricity demand. Both bills help support Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), which are made up of small-scale energy resources found in homes and businesses, like smart thermostats, home batteries, and electric vehicles. These resources can shift, store, and deliver clean energy during times of peak demand, reducing stress on the grid.
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Topics:
Press Releases,
California,
Edson Perez,
Virtual Power Plants
A big step toward unlocking affordable, reliable energy while accelerating clean energy deployment
SACRAMENTO, CA— This evening, the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 540, marking a key step forward in lowering costs for ratepayers, keeping the lights on, and accelerating the state’s transition to clean energy.
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Topics:
Press Releases,
Western RTO,
California,
Edson Perez
In an opinion column featured in Capitol Weekly, United's Callie McKenna makes the case for lower-cost, all-electric alternatives when rebuilding gas infrastructure after the Los Angeles wildfires, urging policymakers to rein in unchecked utility spending to protect ratepayers and meet California’s climate and clean energy goals.
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Topics:
State Policy,
United In The News,
California
Clean energy advocates show support at the California Senate Energy Utilities and Communications Committee
SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee held an informational hearing on the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative. During the hearing, policymakers heard a broad range of perspectives from California stakeholderson the creation of a new regional organization to oversee energy market functions.
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Topics:
Press Releases,
Western RTO,
California,
Edson Perez
POLITICO reports that The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Communications will discuss the West-Wide Governance Pathway Initiative, a proposal to unify the West's electricity markets, which critics say makes California vulnerable to Trump’s FERC. United’s Edson Perez defends the proposal, saying that it will reduce electricity prices by increasing efficiency while preserving California’s authority over its clean energy and transmission policies.
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Topics:
United In The News,
FERC,
California,
Edson Perez
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Senate Chair of Energy, Utilities and Communication Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) and Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) introduced SB 540, legislation aimed at optimizing California’s energy markets, increasing grid reliability, reducing costs for ratepayers, and accelerating the transition to a clean energy future.
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Topics:
State Policy,
Press Releases,
Western RTO,
California,
Edson Perez
RTO Insider reports that California state lawmakers have introduced a bill (SB 540) to implement "Step 2" of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative. United's Leah Rubin Shen highlighted the reliability and cost-saving benefits of sharing resources across the West, commending the Pathways Launch Committee for their support of the bill.
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Topics:
United In The News,
Leah Rubin Shen,
Western RTO,
California
