193 - California Senate Bill 1251: Enhancing Public Health through Mosquito Abatement Inspections in Electrical Utility Vaults

Abstract: Although previously identified as mosquito development sites in 1970, it was not until after Aedes aegypti was established in the central valley of California in 2013 that below-ground utility vaults got their time in the spotlight. As global temperatures continue to rise, shifts in temperature, humidity, and rainfall patterns have enabled the rapid expansion of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and their ability to exploit these cryptic development sites.

California Senator Henry Stern’s SB 1251 addresses this issue by mandating cooperation between mosquito abatement and vector control districts and electrical utility providers to mitigate mosquito breeding in electrical vaults. This bill requires electrical utility providers to enter into a Vector Management Agreement with mosquito abatement districts, vector control districts, or health departments within 180 days of receiving a request.

The presentation will explore the steps taken to bring SB1251 to the governor's desk and key provisions of SB 1251, including the identification and inspection of electrical vaults, access protocols for treatment, and confidentiality requirements for utility infrastructure data. It will also highlight the broader public health benefits of reducing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus, through this collaborative effort.

SB 1251 strikes a balance between public health protection and the security of critical utility infrastructure, outlining specific requirements for surveillance, treatment, and data privacy. By facilitating partnerships between utility providers and local health authorities, SB 1251 enhances California’s capacity to protect communities from the health threats posed by mosquito vectors.