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Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation increasing criminal penalties for assault or battery against utility workers in California following what supporters describe as a surge in violence and threats against employees performing essential infrastructure work, according to a new release from the office of Sen. Jesse Arreguín (D-Oakland).
Senate Bill 1330, authored by Arreguín, makes a violation punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $2,000 or both, according to the release.
What’s changing
SB 1330 is intended to provide additional legal protections for utility employees while they are working.
“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 Arreguín, who is also chair of the Senate 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 legislation follows several violent incidents involving utility employees, according to the release.
In August, Southern California Edison employees were targeted in an attack in Mentone in San Bernardino County that ended with the suspect being killed. In March, four people were injured after a suspect shot at Pacific Gas & Electric workers in Camino in El Dorado County.
The release said those incidents are among more than 450 incidents of violence or threats involving workers at California’s major utility companies since 2024.
Why it matters
Utility employees perform work on electrical and other infrastructure throughout California, making workplace safety an issue for utilities, organized labor and the communities they serve.
“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.”
The legislation was backed by a coalition that included the California State Association of Electrical Workers and Coalition of California Utility Employees, both co-sponsors, as well as the California Federation of Labor Unions, California Civil Liberties Association, San Diego Gas & Electric, AFSCME, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Engineers and Scientists of California and IFPTE Local 20.
