State lawmakers are proposing legislation that imposes greater penalties for assaults against electric utility workers.
These measures are being debated in the wake of attacks on utility personnel, incidents that have threatened the safety of line workers while impeding grid repair.
Newly passed legislation and bills under review across the U.S. have received broad support from public power utilities.
Protecting Workers
The April 2025 passage of Florida’s S.B. 1386 has been met with praise from public power leadership, particularly due to its goal of offering protection for utility workers similar to that given to first responders.
Amy Zubaly, Executive Director of the Florida Municipal Electric Association, released a statement emphasizing that electricity workers “are first responders who already work an inherently dangerous job” while lauding the bill’s efforts to “help ensure utility workers are able to work unimpeded and in a safe environment.”
The Florida bill upgrades criminal penalties for assaults committed against on-the-job employees who are wearing uniforms or other markings identifying them as utility personnel, handing down the same penalties as those given for targeting law enforcement, firefighters, and medical responders.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a similar bill into law on May 6, 2024. The state’s Utility Worker Protection Act upgrades the level of criminal offense for assaults against on-the-job utility workers to aggravated misdemeanor, and applies retroactively for all offenses committed since July 1, 2024.
The bill receiver broad support from Georgia’s public power utilities, as well as praise from Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG), which lauded its passage in a statement to APPA:
“Public power utilities across the state have become increasingly aware of the growing problem of threats and harassment directed at field crews, making this legislation both timely and necessary. ECG embraces the law as a clear affirmation of the value and safety of utility workers. This act reinforces a shared commitment to protecting those who work tirelessly - often in dangerous conditions - to keep essential services running.”
Pending Legislation
Texas’ S.B. 482 was drafted as a direct response to attacks against workers who oversaw utility repairs during the unusually intense 2024 hurricane season. As an accompanying brief from the Texas Senate Research Center notes:
“In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, utility workers restoring power faced not only the physical challenges of repairing downed power lines but also alarming hostility from some members of the public… S.B. 482 enhances protections for utility workers by increasing criminal penalties for offenses committed against them while performing their duties.”
Texas public power utilities rallied in support of the bill, which has advanced quickly through both chambers of the Texas Legislature. On May 23, the measure was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott.
Taylor Kilroy, Executive Director of the Texas Public Power Association, gave testimony in support of the bill before the Texas legislature in April 2025.
Kilroy noted the impact that aggression towards power workers had on disaster recovery efforts in the wake of the 2024 hurricane season to the detriment of both residents and lineworkers who arrived from other regions.
Kilroy expressed concern these threats to power workers could harm future post-disaster mutual aid efforts, prolonging service outages and putting lives at risk.
“News of utility workers being robbed at gunpoint or otherwise being threatened quickly traveled across the industry. I’ve been told by my counterparts at public power organizations in other states that it would be a very hard sell to send mutual aid crews to Texas in the future,” he said.
Kilroy expressed hope during his testimony that the new legislation would serve as a deterrent against hostility towards utility personnel.
“S.B. 482 serves as a powerful message that the kind of behavior we saw during the [Hurricane] Beryl response will not be tolerated, and we are fully supportive of the bill,” he said.
A Culture of Safety
Legislators and public power organizations are advocating for similar legislation in North Carolina. H.B. 258, the Utility Worker Protection Act, upgrades penalties handed down for assaults against North Carolina utility workers with the intention of protecting employees that maintain critical services.
Public power entities were proactive in their support, particularly in light of recent attacks against utility workers in the state.
ElectriCities of North Carolina released a statement supporting the bill when it reached committee, highlighting the rise in aggression against lineworkers:
“In recent years, utility workers in North Carolina's 70+ public power communities have faced a disturbing number of both verbal and physical assaults… In some cases, communities have been forced to deploy police officers to protect utility workers while they carry out their duties. ElectriCities commends the sponsors of H.B. 258 for their commitment to protecting North Carolina's utility workers and we strongly support the passage of this bill.”
In remarks to APPA, Dalton Ashworth, ElectriCities' government affairs associate, noted some incidents appear to be a result of residents taking out their frustration with service outages and disconnections on field workers – making it more difficult for lineworkers to address these disruptions while creating an environment of intimidation.
North Carolina’s public power advocates served as a liaison between these workers, communities, and state representatives, with Ashworth outlining that, “When the Utility Worker Protection Act was being introduced, [ElectriCities] contacted our communities to hear their experiences and understand what forms of threats public utility workers face on a day-to-day basis. We have proactively shared that information with lawmakers and testified in favor of the bill in committee.”
Ashworth connected this support for North Carolina’s Utility Worker Protection Act to a broader culture of safety under which public power workers can continue supporting their communities without fear of violence or harassment. “Safety is at the core of everything we do. We will continue to provide safety training and implement best practices to minimize risks for utility workers. We applaud the sponsors of H.B. 258 for their commitment to protecting utility workers and hope to see the bill become law soon.”
