Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations. Existing law requires the PUC to adopt rules and procedures for commission-regulated natural gas pipeline facilities governing the operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of those facilities to achieve specified safety and environmental goals, as specified. Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board (state board) , in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) and the PUC, to prepare an evaluation posted to the state board's internet website that includes, among other things, policy recommendations for regulatory and permitting processes associated with transmission and distribution of hydrogen, including green hydrogen, from production sites to end uses.
This bill would require the PUC to require that hydrogen pipelines, as defined, meet specified requirements. The bill would require the PUC to establish, on or before January 1, 2028, and enforce standards that meet or exceed those requirements, as provided.
The bill would require a hydrogen pipeline owner to maintain accurate records of hydrogen concentration levels within its hydrogen pipeline and any measurable leakage of hydrogen and, on or before December 31 of each year, to submit a report to the PUC detailing compliance with that requirement.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the PUC is a crime.
Because the above provisions would be part of the act and a violation of a PUC action implementing this bill's requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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.

Statutes affected:
SB 804: 975 PUC
02/21/25 - Introduced: 975 PUC
03/24/25 - Amended Senate: 975 PUC