How California’s latest climate and energy bills reshape the grid

California's governor signed a batch of energy bills at the end of September, and a few could affect homeowners down the line. Two bills, SB 905 and SB 913, aim to use networks of home batteries, smart thermostats, and electric vehicles to ease strain on the power grid instead of building new infrastructure. If you have a battery or similar device, this could eventually let it earn money or credits by feeding power back to the grid at peak times, as part of what's called a virtual power plant. Regulators have until June 2028 to finalize the rules, so nothing changes immediately, but this lays the groundwork for homeowners with batteries to be paid for helping stabilize the grid.

Separately, the governor vetoed a bill, AB 1813, that would have created a statewide community solar program. This would have let people who can't install rooftop panels — renters, or homeowners with shaded or unsuitable roofs — subscribe to a shared solar project and get a credit on their utility bill for the power it generated. The governor called the bill's pricing approach "structurally flawed." Solar industry groups pushed back, saying it was a missed chance to cut costs for ratepayers. For now, California still does not have a workable community solar option, so homeowners without roof access remain without that route to solar savings.

Other signed bills include rules making it easier to recycle old solar panels, a measure helping farmers convert struggling farmland into solar projects, and a new requirement for the state to track utility progress on building transmission lines.