CMUA Honors Senate President pro Tem and San Fernando Valley Assemblymember for Outstanding Leadership
(Sacramento, Calif.; February 9, 2022) — State Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins and Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian are the recipients of California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) Legislative Leader Awards for 2021, recognizing their outstanding leadership, effective action, and significant achievement on issues of importance to CMUA members.
Proactive and effective leadership from Senate President pro Tem Atkins (D-San Diego) was integral to successfully securing approximately $2 billion in funding for California water and energy customers to help pay their past-due utility bills. Atkins championed this issue, a top CMUA priority, in the Legislature and proposed funding early in 2021 initially as part of the Senate’s Drought and Ratepayer Assistance Package. Atkins and her staff were instrumental not only in securing funding, but also in ushering through a funding distribution mechanism that was fast, efficient and equitable.
Assemblymember Nazarian (D-Van Nuys) in 2021 successfully authored AB 758, legislation sponsored by CMUA that authorizes publicly owned electric utilities to issue rate reduction bonds, a low-cost financing tool that can help reduce customer impacts when making needed infrastructure investments and, in turn, maintain affordable electric service for customers. Nazarian authored prior legislation to open up rate reduction bonds to California water and wastewater agencies.
“CMUA is extremely grateful for the exemplary leadership and tireless work that Senate President pro Tem Atkins, Assemblymember Nazarian and their staff put forth to advance solutions that will benefit California utility customers now and in years to come,” said CMUA Executive Director Barry Moline. “We greatly appreciate their continued efforts to ensure all Californians have access to reliable, affordable and safe electric, water and wastewater service.”
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About CMUA
The California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) is the leading voice for California utilities, enhancing our communities. CMUA partners with community owned utilities to support reliable, sustainable, and affordable services to all Californians through advocacy, education and relationships. Together, CMUA members provide water service to about 75 percent of Californians and electric service to 25 percent of the state. For more information about CMUA, visit www.cmua.org
Proactive and effective leadership from Senate President pro Tem Atkins (D-San Diego) was integral to successfully securing approximately $2 billion in funding for California water and energy customers to help pay their past-due utility bills. Atkins championed this issue, a top CMUA priority, in the Legislature and proposed funding early in 2021 initially as part of the Senate’s Drought and Ratepayer Assistance Package. Atkins and her staff were instrumental not only in securing funding, but also in ushering through a funding distribution mechanism that was fast, efficient and equitable.
Assemblymember Nazarian (D-Van Nuys) in 2021 successfully authored AB 758, legislation sponsored by CMUA that authorizes publicly owned electric utilities to issue rate reduction bonds, a low-cost financing tool that can help reduce customer impacts when making needed infrastructure investments and, in turn, maintain affordable electric service for customers. Nazarian authored prior legislation to open up rate reduction bonds to California water and wastewater agencies.
“CMUA is extremely grateful for the exemplary leadership and tireless work that Senate President pro Tem Atkins, Assemblymember Nazarian and their staff put forth to advance solutions that will benefit California utility customers now and in years to come,” said CMUA Executive Director Barry Moline. “We greatly appreciate their continued efforts to ensure all Californians have access to reliable, affordable and safe electric, water and wastewater service.”
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About CMUA
The California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) is the leading voice for California utilities, enhancing our communities. CMUA partners with community owned utilities to support reliable, sustainable, and affordable services to all Californians through advocacy, education and relationships. Together, CMUA members provide water service to about 75 percent of Californians and electric service to 25 percent of the state. For more information about CMUA, visit www.cmua.org