As California faces longer fire seasons and increasingly complex wildfire emergencies, reliable access to water for firefighting remains essential. In October 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 367 (Bennett) into law, establishing new requirements for community water systems serving high-risk areas of Ventura County.
While the intent behind AB 367 is clear — to strengthen wildfire preparedness by ensuring backup power and operational continuity — the bill also introduces significant challenges for water suppliers, especially smaller districts, rural systems, and agencies navigating aging infrastructure or limited budgets.
What is important for our members to know is this: CUEA understands both the goals and the practical limitations of this legislation, and we are committed to supporting utilities as they work toward the 2030 requirements.
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Understanding AB 367: Intent vs. Implementation
AB 367 was drafted in response to past wildfire events where water availability was impacted by power shutoffs, damaged equipment, or delayed replenishment. The law seeks to address these issues through:
- 24-hour backup power requirements for critical fire suppression infrastructure
- Fire hardening of wells, pumps, and generators
- New inspection and reporting frameworks
- Emergency preparedness plans tied to county oversight
While these provisions aim to improve resilience, they also introduce several practical and operational challenges, such as:
- High cost of backup power installations
- Fuel and maintenance requirements not accounted for in the bill
- Limited staffing capacity for ongoing inspections and reporting
- Infrastructure locations that make fire hardening difficult or expensive
- Coordination demands that extend beyond water agencies and into multi-utility planning
Many of these issues cannot be solved by regulation alone.
CUEA recognizes that resilience requires system-level collaboration across water, power, telecom, fuel providers, emergency managers, and local government. This broader cross-sector support is not explicitly addressed within AB 367 — but it is essential for real-world implementation.
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A Statewide Lens: Why This Matters Beyond Ventura County
Although AB 367 applies only to Ventura County, many utilities across California face the same conditions:
- Increasing PSPS events
- Aging infrastructure
- Limited generator capacity
- Rising wildfire risk
- Interdependence between water and electric systems
The bill may set a precedent for future legislation affecting other counties or sectors. For that reason, understanding its implications now is critical.
CUEA is not simply observing these changes — we are preparing to help utilities adapt, plan, and strengthen resilience in ways that go beyond regulatory compliance.
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Where AB 367 Falls Short — and Where CUEA Steps In
The legislation focuses heavily on backup power and infrastructure standards, but wildfire resilience requires far more:
1. Cross-Utility Coordination
Water systems cannot meet 24-hour operational standards if they are isolated from electric, telecom, and fuel providers. AB 367 does not mandate or outline these coordination pathways.
CUEA fills that gap by connecting all sectors in real time.
2. Operational Support During Emergencies
Generators, mobile power, fuel delivery, and field support require shared resources and coordinated logistics.
CUEA’s mutual aid network is uniquely positioned to help deploy and prioritize these assets.
3. Planning Beyond Regulation
Preparedness is not a one-time compliance action. It involves scenario development, training, exercises, communication protocols, and partner alignment.
CUEA provides structure and support for these processes.
4. Equity for Small and Under-Resourced Water Systems
Many smaller providers lack the financial or staffing capacity to meet AB 367’s deadlines alone.
CUEA can help by advocating for funding pathways, facilitating resource sharing, and offering planning assistance.
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How CUEA Will Support Water Systems Through 2030
CUEA is committed to helping utilities not only meet the requirements of AB 367, but also build true operational resilience that extends beyond compliance.
CUEA Will Provide:
• Technical guidance & interpretation of requirements
Understanding what constitutes “critical fire suppression infrastructure,” backup power options, and acceptable alternatives.
• Workshops, training, and planning templates
Helping utilities create emergency preparedness plans, risk assessments, and deployment procedures.
• Cross-sector coordination
Facilitating collaboration between water, electric, telecom, fuel, and emergency agencies.
• Mutual aid support
Including mobile generators, field support, communication channels, and situational awareness during emergencies.
• Advocacy and representation
Ensuring state agencies understand the practical challenges utilities face and helping members navigate regulatory expectations.
• Best-practice sharing
Documenting lessons learned as Ventura County moves toward implementation, benefiting all regions statewide.
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Our Commitment to Members
CUEA does not view AB 367 as a complete solution — but we do see it as a catalyst for broader conversations about utility resilience, collaboration, and realistic wildfire preparedness.
Regardless of the legislation’s limitations, CUEA remains committed to:
Supporting every member system, regardless of size
Ensuring utilities are not navigating compliance alone
Bringing all lifeline sectors to the same table
Facilitating communication before, during, and after emergencies
Strengthening California’s collective operational readiness
Our message to members is simple:
You are not alone in this work — and CUEA is more prepared than ever to help you meet the challenges ahead.
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Conclusion: Moving Toward 2030, Together
AB 367 introduces new requirements, but it does not define the full path to resilience. That path is shaped by the people, systems, and partnerships that keep water flowing, power supplied, communication lines open, and emergency response coordinated.
CUEA is committed to walking that path with you — strengthening utility coordination, supporting implementation, and helping California prepare for the increasingly complex wildfire seasons ahead.