AB 2543: Emergency preparedness: direct-current fast-charging station sites.

Existing law establishes various duties and responsibilities of the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) relating to energy usage in the state, including to carry out research and development into alternative sources of energy, improvements in energy generation, transmission, and siting, fuel substitution, and other topics related to energy supply, demand, public safety, ecology, and conservation that are of particular statewide importance, as provided.

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, generally prescribes duties with regard to various types of emergencies and disasters, including requiring the Governor to coordinate the State Emergency Plan and those programs necessary for the mitigation of the effects of an emergency in this state. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to include in the State Hazard Mitigation Plan an evaluation of risks from specified causes of a long-term electrical outage and, based on that analysis, requires the plan to identify cost-effective and feasible measures to lessen risks from those hazards, including, hardening the critical infrastructure of electrical utilities.

This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2027, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, in consultation with the Office of Emergency Services Services, in consultation with the Energy Commission and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, to (A) (1) identify and evaluate emergency types during which operators of fast charging direct-current fast-charging station sites should be required to maintain operations, (B) determine direct current fast charging (2) identify direct-current fast-charging station sites that are important to maintain during each emergency type based on specified factors, and (C) (3) develop recommendations on how long power energy should be maintained during each emergency type and on requirements for station operators to ensure operability of identified station sites during each emergency type, as provided. The bill would require, on or before January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, an operator of a direct current fast charging direct-current fast-charging station site identified by the commission Office of Emergency Services to submit an emergency management plan to the commission Office of Emergency Services that considers options to be used during an emergency to maintain operations, as provided. The bill would require the commission Office of Emergency Services to review the emergency management plans and consult with the Office of Emergency Services and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, Safety and the Energy Commission, as necessary.

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Under existing law, the commission PUC requires, as part of a general order, an electrical corporations corporation to submit an annual report and emergency response and disaster preparedness plan to the commission. PUC.

This bill would require an electrical corporation to consider electric vehicle charging stations in its annual report and emergency response and disaster preparedness plan.

Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission PUC is a crime.

Because the certain provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and therefore a violation of the bills requirements requirements, or a violation of a commission PUC action implementing its requirements 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.