What SB 943 does
An act to add Sections 351, 756, and 759 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable.
This bill would require each electrical corporation to obtain the commission’s approval for the terms of its retail transmission rates, as specified.
This bill would authorize the commission to direct an electrical corporation with more than 100,000 service connections in California, when billing a large commercial or industrial customer for separately metered new load to provide industrial heat, to apply an adjustment factor to the per kilowatthour rate for each volumetrically determined surcharge on energy use to limit the surcharge ratio, as defined, to no more than 25% or an alternative maximum ratio determined by the commission to be just and reasonable and in furtherance of facilitating electrification of industrial energy use. The bill would prohibit an eligible industrial transition customer that pays a reduced surcharge from receiving an incentive funded by that surcharge in an amount that exceeds the amount of the surcharge paid by the eligible industrial transition customer. The bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2032, and every 5 years thereafter, to evaluate and report to the Legislature on the adjustment factor, as specified.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the above provision would be part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing that provision would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law establishes the Independent System Operator as a nonprofit, public benefit corporation and requires the Independent System Operator, among other duties, to ensure the efficient use and reliable operation of the electrical transmission grid consistent with the achievement of planning and operating reserve criteria, as provided.
This bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2028, to request the Independent System Operator to reconsider issues raised in its transmission access charge structure enhancements proceeding as potential reforms to its high-voltage transmission access charges. The bill would require the commission to develop recommendations for changes to high voltage transmission access charges that would improve consistency with the commission’s causation principles, and to submit the recommendations to the Independent System Operator within a proceeding considering changes to the high-voltage transmission access charge structure.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the amended assembly text, June 15, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Senator Becker introduced SB 943 on February 2, 2026, with coauthors Senator Stern. The text was amended 3 times, 2 in the Assembly and 1 in the Senate, and heard in 6 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Senate Floor, May 19, 2026: 33 ayes, 3 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications, March 17, 2026: Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations], 15-0.
- Senate Appropriations, April 13, 2026: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
- Senate Appropriations, May 14, 2026: Do pass, 5-0.
- Assembly Utilities and Energy, June 10, 2026: Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar, 18-0.
Who supports and opposes SB 943
The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy analysis dated June 9, 2026 lists 50 organizations in support and 0 in opposition. When Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications first listed positions on March 16, 2026, the count was 29 in support and 0 opposed. By the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy analysis of June 9, 2026 it was 50 to 0.
In support: 350 Humboldt; Amy's Kitchen; Antora Energy, INC; Asian Pacific Environmental Network; Bellwether Coffee; Bluegreen Alliance; Brightline Defense; California Large Energy Consumers Association; and 42 more.
Read the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy analysis.
What happens next
It is in Assembly Appropriations. The last recorded action was on August 13, 2026.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for data center organizations
This is the stage where language still changes. Amendments taken in committee are the ones that reach the Governor, so an organization with a stake in the drafting has a reason to be in that conversation now rather than after the vote.
The data centers group at Capitol Axis handles that for data center clients.
Questions about SB 943
What does SB 943 do?
This bill would require each electrical corporation to obtain the commission’s approval for the terms of its retail transmission rates, as specified.
Has SB 943 passed the California Legislature?
It is in Assembly Appropriations. The last recorded action was on August 13, 2026.
Who supports and opposes SB 943?
The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy analysis dated June 9, 2026 lists 50 organizations in support and 0 in opposition. Supporters include 350 Humboldt; Amy's Kitchen; Antora Energy, INC.
What happens next with SB 943?
It still has committee and floor votes ahead of it. Amendments taken now are the ones that reach the Governor, so this is the stage where language changes are still possible.