View the proceedings LGSEC engaged in throughout 2020 and read the comments that were submitted for each. Find proceeding descriptions, scopes, regulatory recommendations, and LGSEC’s impact on statewide energy policy.
2020 Proceedings
R.13-11-005: Order Instituting Rulemaking Concerning Energy Efficiency Rolling Portfolios, Policies, Programs, Evaluation, and Related Issues
This ruling directs the IOUs and invites parties to provide comments on how the CPUC should implement the School Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program established by Assembly Bill (AB) 841 (Stats. 2020, Chap. 372).
SCOPE
The proceeding scope includes consideration of the level and characteristics of energy efficiency funding, and whether or not cost-effectivenss should be considered as part of funding proposals.
LGSEC ACTIVITY
- Comments Filed 10/16/2020
- Comments Filed 10/30/2020.
REGULATORY RECOMMENDATIONS
Program funding should be in addition to other already authorized programs. There should be limited application of cost effectiveness or related tests.
R.18-12-005: Order Instituting Rulemaking to Examine Electric Utility De-Energization of Power Lines in Dangerous Conditions
Monitors ongoing framework to allow IOUs to engage in Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).
SCOPE
The proceeding has a wide scope associated with all elements related to PSPS, including when they should be allowed, how to minimuze their use, and what steps should be taken to protect public health and safety after an outage has been called.
LGSEC ACTIVITY
- Comments Filed 2/19/2020
- Reply Comments Filed 2/26/2020
- COVID Order Submitted 4/17/2020
REGULATORY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Great care should be taken in triggering PSPS during the public health crisis, when people are especially dependent on residential energy supplies and there are fewer out-of-the-house alternatives.
- CPUC should identify and support local government (LG) engagement in bolstering resiliency.
- Excessive deployment of fossil fuel backup generators (BUGS) needs to be addressed.
OUTCOMES
Elements of LGSEC’s recommendations have been incorporated into proceeding decisions, including increased attention to fossil fuel BUG deployment.
R.18-12-006: Order Instituting Rulemaking to Continue the Development of Rates and Infrastructure for Vehicle Electrification
Examines approaches for the investor-owned utilities (IOUs) or other entities to file strategic plans and administer associated funds to establish the infrastructure necessary to more widely deploy electric vehicles.
SCOPE
The proceeding scope includes how to track and measure whether identified transportation electrification (TE) goals have been met; what entities should be allowed to serve as TE administrators; and how best to address equity issues.
LGSEC ACTIVITY
- LGSEC Regulatory Committee forms TEF Working Group
- Working Group meets from April-September to write and review comments on Chapters 6, 9 to 12
- LGSEC submits comments on August 12, 2020
- LGSEC meets with Joint CCAs to discuss comments
REGULATORY RECOMMENDATIONS
- The TEF’s goals should be transparently identified and score card tracked.
- The diversity of TE-related efforts should be systematically mapped
- A census of community capacity to engage in TE-related efforts should be developed, as well as a systematic approach to deepening capacity.
- TEF investments should be explicitly linked to other activities
- Non-IOU entities should be able to serve as PAs, lead TE implementers and co-financiers on an equal basis as IOUs; throughout the proposed TEF, ‘IOUs’ should be replaced by “Program Administrator.”
- The Commission should grant non-IOU PAs access to distribution funds.
- Locational attributes should guide the TEF
- Capacity-building support and funds should be provided to ESJ communities
- Equity must be considered in multiple dimensions.
- The ED’s recommendation to “3. Partner with planning agencies, local governments, communities, and environmental justice groups to ensure equitable distribution of TE investments and should include discussion of this within their TEPs
- PAs should advance community electric mobility planning.
OUTCOMES
- Resulted in holding a call with CPUC staff (Ed Pike) discussing LG perspective on TEF comments on September 2, 2020.
- Prompted more discussion with Joint CCAs
R.19-09-009: Order Instituting Rulemaking Regarding Microgrids Pursuant to Senate Bill 1339 and Resiliency Strategies
Evaluates potential ways to foster the development of microgrids, including by removing policy barriers and creating incentive structures and/or tariffs.
SCOPE
The proceeding scope includes identifying and addressing ways to overcome administrative and technical barriers to microgrid deployment, including related to allowable geographic areas; proposing incentives and/or tariffs to induce microgrid adoption; and recommending what elements should be examined in research and demonstration pilots evaluating microgrids.
LGSEC ACTIVITY
- Comments Filed 1/29/2020
- Comments Filed 8/13/2020
REGULATORY RECOMMENDATIONS
Comments filed on 8/13/20:
- Proposal 1: Direct the Utilities to Revise Rule 2 to Explicitly Allow the Installation of Microgrids as Special Facilities
- Proposal 2: Direct the Utilities to Revise PG&E Rule 18, SCE Rule 18 and SDG&E Rule 19 to Allow Microgrids to Serve Critical Customers on Adjacent Parcels
- Proposal 3: Direct the Utilities to Develop a Standardized Tariff for Combinations of Rule 21 Compliant Technologies
- Proposal 4: Direct the Utilities to Develop a Microgrid Pilot Program
OUTCOMES
The proposed decision, earmarking up to $350 million for utility “clean substation microgrid” proposals in the 2021-2022 timeframe. The PD, set for a vote in January 2021, takes steps toward enabling community- and third-party-operated microgrids, as required under SB 1339. Those include expanding the potential for multi-customer microgrids and ordering the investor-owned utilities to create microgrid tariffs or standards for sharing costs and benefits of the services microgrids can provide.
R.20-08-022: Order Instituting Rulemaking to Investigate and Design Clean Energy Financing Options for Electricity and Natural Gas Customers
Examines ways to best coordinate and supplement the presently available patchwork of clean energy financing measures.
SCOPE
Presently being determined.
LGSEC ACTIVITY
Comments Filed 10/5/2020
REGULATORY RECOMMENDATIONS
Scope should include:
- The interrelationship between incentives, financing, technical assistance and resource and non-resource programs.
- A thoughtful consideration of the associated eligibility framework.
- The role bond financing can play in filling gaps and leveraging other sources, including how such approaches might be orchestrated on a local and statewide basis, and be secured by changes in electricity revenues.
- An identification and evaluation of the functions different entities, especially LGs, can and should play to achieve financing, and ultimately, decarbonization and GHG emission reduction, goals.
- How LGs can best be engaged to fulfill a diversity of beneficial parts, including related to advancing equity and increasing disadvantaged communities’ capacities.
- The associated long-term funding commitment necessary to effectively activate LGs.
OUTCOMES
Awaiting scoping memo.
Regulatory Filings Archive
Visit the Regulatory Filings page to view filings before 2020.