Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris Champions Legislation to Cut Energy Costs and Strengthen Grid Reliability

Sacramento, CA — Affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges for Californians. This year, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D—Irvine) delivered major wins to lower costs for ratepayers and accelerate California’s clean energy transition. Working closely with colleagues in the Legislature, she championed landmark legislation that puts money back in families’ pockets while building a more reliable and sustainable energy future.

“California has set the gold standard for climate action, demonstrating that we can cut emissions while growing the world’s fourth-largest economy,” Petrie-Norris said. “Our constituents tasked us with navigating some profoundly important challenges – lowering sky-high utility bills, increasing reliability to avoid blackouts, and continuing to lead the country in the fight for clean energy. This package, supported by leading climate, business, and labor organizations, does all three.” 

The Energy Affordability & Climate Resilience Package

AB 825 (Petrie-Norris/Becker) – Cuts energy bills, strengthens electric grid reliability, and reduces climate pollution by enabling California to expand regional power markets and share clean energy across the West.

• Lower Energy Bills for California Families: AB 825 could deliver more than $1 billion in annual savings for consumers and businesses by increasing supply, improving efficiency and reducing wasted renewable energy.
• Provide California With Even More Reliable Energy Sources: It strengthens California’s grid and reduces blackouts by accessing a wider, more diverse pool of regional energy resources, reducing stress during extreme weather events.
• Accelerate Clean Energy To Help Meet Our Climate Goals: Allows California to develop more renewable energy that can be used or sold to other states, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, cutting air pollution and moving California closer to achieving climate goals.

“This proposal is a smart, forward-looking plan to deliver Californians more affordable, reliable, and clean energy. By joining a broader regional energy market, we can cut energy costs by over a billion dollars each year and fortify our grid against climate-driven disruptions. AB 825 is the result of years of hard work and negotiations, and I am confident that the proposal passed today will protect California’s energy independence while opening the door to new opportunities to build and share renewable power across the West.” Said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D–Irvine)

SB 254 – Improves wildfire safety and reduces energy costs by strengthening utility oversight, expanding the Wildfire Fund, and requiring greater transparency in utility business practices—ensuring more affordable, accountable investments in the grid.

SB 614 – Helps California reach its net-zero carbon emission goals by 2045 by setting safety standards for carbon capture and sequestration projects. Ensures the safe transport of carbon dioxide to help California responsibly scale carbon capture and sequestration technologies and protect public safety, while creating high-quality jobs for skilled laborers.

AB 1207 and SB 840– Reauthorizes California’s cap-and-trade program, the state’s most cost-effective climate program, to ensure the program can deliver on the state’s climate goals, while generating new revenue for critical climate, transit, renewable energy, air quality, and affordability programs. Keeps the twice-yearly climate credit on utility bills, with changes so families see the break during months when bills are highest. It also secures $1 billion for investment in housing, transit, clean air, wildfire prevention, and safe drinking water. 

SB 237 – Mitigates against future gasoline price spikes by stabilizing the production of in-state petroleum and refinery supply and diversifying the state’s transportation fuel supply, while protecting communities near petroleum wells and increasing safety requirements on idle petroleum pipelines.

Additional Legislative Achievements
The Legislature also advanced five of Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris’ bills to the Governor’s desk—measures that reflect community priorities on public safety, housing, clean energy, and cutting red tape.

AB 366 – Extends the Ignition Interlock Device program, requiring DUI offenders to install devices that prevent impaired driving and save lives.

AB 420 – Speeds up housing and renewable energy projects by streamlining minor land transactions.

AB 451 – Strengthen gun safety laws by requiring proof within 48 hours that firearms are surrendered after a restraining order is issued.

AB 915 – Speeds up the approval process for a cutting-edge energy storage project that stores extra renewable power underground using compressed air—the first of its kind.

AB 963 – Requires any entity receiving public funds to verify that their subcontractors are paid the legally required prevailing wage.

AB 1050 – Helps turn vacant commercial centers into housing by extending current law that removes covenants or restrictions blocking mixed-use and mixed-income development.