Governor Signs Bill to Protect Utility Workers After Surge in Assaults
Sacramento, CA – Last night, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1330, a bipartisan bill authored by State Senator Jesse Arreguín (D-Oakland), which increases criminal penalties for assault or battery against a utility worker. This bill is in response to a growing number of incidents when essential utility workers are assaulted or threatened while working on the job. SB 1330 would make a violation punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year and/or by a fine not exceeding $2,000.
“Utility workers provide an essential service to Californians, helping keep our lights on and deliver the critical services our communities rely on every day,” said Senator Jesse Arreguín, Chair of the Public Safety Committee. “SB 1330 recognizes the importance of their work and the risks they face, providing necessary protections at a critical time when there has been an unprecedented surge in assaults on utility workers.”
The bill’s signing comes after two high-profile shootings this year against utility workers. In August, an attack on Southern California Edison employees in Mentone, San Bernardino County left the suspect dead. A similar incident happened in Camino, El Dorado County, in March, where four people were injured after a suspect shot at Pacific Gas & Electric workers. These incidents are just some of over 450 incidents of violence or threats against utility workers of California’s major utility companies since 2024.
“Utility workers perform dangerous work every day to keep California’s communities powered and safe,” said Bob Dean, Business Manager of IBEW Local 1245. “Being attacked on the job should never be one of those risks. We thank Governor Newsom for signing SB 1330 and Senator Arreguín for standing with the men and women who provide the essential services Californians depend on every day.”
The bill was supported by a large coalition of utility employees and groups, including the California State Association of Electrical Workers (Co-Sponsor), Coalition of California Utility Employees (Co-Sponsor), California Federation of Labor Unions, California Civil Liberties Association, San Diego Gas and Electric, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), East Bay Municipal Utility District, Engineers and Scientists of California, and International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 20.
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