Is California’s Power Grid Ready for an All-Electric Future?

California is implementing policies for a cleaner future, setting aggressive goals to cut emissions and electrify everything from cars to kitchens. But as we move faster toward an all-electric future, one critical question remains: can our power grid keep up?

While California has made progress in clean energy and battery storage, our power grid still faces some challenges, including parts being over a century old. As the state phases out gas-powered vehicles and mandates electric appliances in new construction, the aging grid is under growing strain from rising electricity demand, expanding renewable energy, and increasingly frequent extreme heat and wildfires. Without major upgrades to make the system more reliable and resilient, full electrification could do more harm than good, especially for vulnerable communities and small businesses.

Everyday Impacts on Families and Businesses

Grid failures are not just technical problems—they’re personal!

• Power outages disrupt daily life for seniors who rely on medical equipment, parents working from home, and kids attending school online.
• Working-class, rural, and low-income communities are hit hardest by unreliable service due to aging equipment and underinvestment in infrastructure.
• Electrification mandates often require expensive upgrades—such as replacing gas appliances with electric ones—that many families cannot afford without financial assistance.

What does this mean for small businesses?

• Unreliable power disrupts operations, halting production, spoiling goods, and delaying deliveries.
• California’s high electricity rates and unstable grid create additional financial strain, especially for small businesses that can’t afford backup systems.
• If the grid doesn’t keep up with the pace of electrification, California risks driving businesses and jobs out of the state, undermining the economic growth needed to support a clean energy future.

Demand Is Rising—But the Grid Isn’t Ready

A recent study from UC Berkeley estimates that California will need to invest up to $20 billion in transmission line upgrades just to handle the increased demand from electric vehicles. And that’s only part of the picture. This estimate doesn’t account for the added strain from other electrification mandates, like replacing gas appliances in homes and buildings. The total cost could be significantly higher.

If California moves too fast without strengthening its energy foundation, we risk breaking public trust and hurting the very people we aim to protect.

Take Action
While California’s energy goals are set with good intentions, they’re putting serious pressure on our already unstable power grid. We need energy solutions that balance reliability, sustainability, and affordability—policies that don’t just look good on paper but work in practice for everyone.

If you’re frustrated with how California’s energy policies are affecting your home, family, or business, we want to hear your story.

Join us to raise your voice and demand change.