Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have required California regulators to develop rules for how utilities weigh the value of demand-reducing technologies and strategies when forecasting how much electricity they need to buy.
What happened: Newsom rejected AB 44, a measure authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz, writing in a veto message that the bill would conflict with the California Public Utilities Commission’s existing rules that make sure the state’s energy grid has enough power to meet demand.
“As a result, the requirements of this bill would not improve electric grid reliability planning and could create uncertainty around energy resource planning and procurement process,” Newsom wrote.
AB 44 cleared the Legislature with bipartisan support and did not draw registered opposition as it moved through the Capitol.
