CHAPTER 5. Electrical Hazards [119075. - 119090.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 5.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 119075. Section 119075.

(a) The Legislature intends to prevent electricity generated by permanent or portable electric generators from backfeeding into a utility electrical distribution system by the enactment of this chapter. (b) Any portable electrical generator that is capable of being connected temporarily to a customer’s electrical system, that is normally supplied by an electrical corporation or state or local public agency, shall be connected only after opening the customer’s main switch so as to isolate the customer’s electrical system from that of the electrical corporation or state or local agency. (c) Any electrical generator, other than a generator designed to run in parallel with the system of the serving utility and approved by that utility, that is capable of being permanently connected to a customer’s electrical system shall be connected only by means of a double throw switch so as to isolate the customer’s electrical system from that of the electrical corporation or state or local agency.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 119080. Section 119080.

(a) Every manufacturer of a portable or permanent electrical generator that is capable of being connected either permanently or temporarily to a commercial, industrial, or residential structure’s electrical system, shall include a warning statement in the generator’s instruction manual and a legible warning label on the generator that states the requirement of Section 119075 and explains the electrical hazards of backfeed into a utility’s distribution system. The same warning information shall be included in all advertisements offering portable electric generators. (b) No person or public agency shall sell, rent to another person or public agency, or offer for sale or rent to another person or public agency a portable electrical generator unless the legible warning label is on a visible surface of the generator.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 119085. Section 119085.

(a) Every public utility or utility district shall notify all electrical service customers of the electrical backfeed hazards of portable and permanent electric generators. (b) Any owner, renter, or lessee who possesses and operates an electric generator, when the generator is connected to a commercial, industrial, or residential structure’s electrical system that is connected to the service of a public utility or utility district, shall notify the utility of the location of the generator.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 119090. Section 119090.

(a) Any person who violates Sections 119075 to 119085, inclusive, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or not more than six months’ imprisonment. (b) For purposes of this section, “person” shall not include public agencies, officers or employees of public agencies, or public utilities.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026