California 2026 legislative season: Data centers, grid reliability and clean energy

California's legislature wrapped up its 2026 session with a few bills that could touch your home's energy setup, though most still need the governor's signature to become law. The one most relevant to homeowners is SB 913, which addresses strain on the electric grid during heat waves and wildfire season. If enacted, it would set up payment for homeowners when a grid operator pulls stored energy from their home battery during peak demand times, when electricity is most expensive. The idea is to link up batteries and other home energy devices across a region so utilities can draw on that power, or ask people to cut demand, during the worst heat and wildfire stress on the system.

Separately, lawmakers passed AB 1577, aimed at data centers rather than homes directly. It would require these large facilities to report more about their power use and on-site fuel burning, giving state and local agencies better data for energy and land-use planning. This matters to homeowners mainly because data centers are a growing share of California's electricity demand, and better tracking could help utilities plan grid capacity more effectively.

A bill that would have paused California's rules cutting emissions from building materials, AB 1704, failed in committee, meaning the state's existing goal to cut those emissions 40% by 2035 stays in place. None of this changes what's available to homeowners right now, but SB 913 in particular is worth watching if you have, or are considering, a home battery system.