Oct. 22, 2026

Every day, SoCalGas employees and contractors perform essential work to maintain critical infrastructure, respond to emergencies and help deliver safe and reliable energy service to communities throughout Southern California. Their safety, and the safety of the customers and communities they serve, is foundational to everything we do.

Some utility workers have shared concerns about threatening or aggressive situations encountered while performing their jobs. In response, SoCalGas supported Senate Bill 1330 (SB 1330), legislation recently signed by Governor Newsom that strengthens protections for utility workers performing covered infrastructure-related work. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.

SB 1330 increases penalties for assault and battery committed against utility workers while constructing, altering, demolishing, installing, maintaining or repairing water, electric or gas infrastructure. The legislation recognizes the important role utility workers play in maintaining critical infrastructure, supporting emergency response efforts and helping provide safe and reliable service to customers throughout California.

"Supporting the safety of our employees and contractors is an important part of how we serve our customers and communities,” said Rodger Schwecke, president of SoCalGas. “We supported SB 1330 because utility workers performing essential work deserve protections that help them do their jobs safely. This new law recognizes the important role they play in serving communities across California.”

“Our unions keep public safety as a top priority on a daily basis. Day in and day out, our members provide high-quality service safely and reliably for the communities we serve," said Bill Gilbertson, president of UWUA Local 132. “Sometimes that courtesy is not returned, creating dangerous conditions for our employees and others. We are grateful that SoCalGas stood with labor in support of this bill and the stronger protections it provides for union employees in the field. SB 1330 is grounded in safety and common sense, and is modeled after similar legislation that has proven effective in other states. Safety should never take a back seat; it should be the driver in everything we do. We thank all involved in making this a reality, especially Senator Jesse Arreguín."

Whether responding to emergencies, supporting wildfire and storm response efforts, maintaining infrastructure or serving customers, utility workers help keep communities safe and connected. The signing of SB 1330 represents an important step in strengthening protections for the workforce that performs this essential work. Supporting employee and contractor safety remains central to SoCalGas' mission and reflects the company's Safer Together values. SB 1330 complements broader efforts to protect employees performing essential work and promote safe interactions with the public.

SoCalGas also appreciates Governor Newsom, Senator Jesse Arreguín, labor organizations and other stakeholders who worked together to advance the measure. At SoCalGas, protecting employees and contractors remains essential to delivering safe, reliable service to the customers and communities we serve.