Regulatory Proceedings

LGSEC provides a voice for its members on crucial energy policy. Staff closely monitors proceedings of the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission and the California Air Resources Board, and submits formal comments on issues that matter to the Coalition’s members. Our work ensures local governments have a regular presence with key regulatory agencies. When state laws and policies are converted into specific regulations and programs, LGSEC is there to provide a local government perspective and identify emerging challenges.

Active Proceedings

View the proceedings LGSEC is actively engaged in and currently monitoring. Find descriptions, schedules, and engagement, including submitted comments, for each proceeding. Click on the proceeding name to expand details.
R. 19-09-009: Microgrids

Icons made by Flat Icons from www.flaticon.comTwo related processes are extant, as follows: (1) Through a series of formal comments, workshops, advice letters, and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) reports this docket focuses on how to encourage microgrid deployment while maintaining grid integrity. (2) Pacific Gas and Electric, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison (“utilities”) are soliciting input through a series of workshops on the elements necessary to develop a new $200 million Microgrid Incentive Program intended to support energy resilience for vulnerable populations impacted by grid outages.

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Proceeding Schedule
Proceeding Milestone
Date
Amended Scoping Memo and Ruling, filing and served February 9, 2021
Comments on Ruling, filed and served March 3, 2021
Reply comments on Ruling, filed and served March 10, 2021
Proposed Decision, filed and served June 9, 2021
Comments on Proposed Decision, filed and served June 29, 2021
R. 21-06-017: Modernize the Electric Grid for a High Distributed Energy Resources Future

Proposed scope includes:

  • Should the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) investigate how to redefine electric distribution investor-owned utility (IOU) roles to accommodate a high DER future, limit market power, and ensure open access for DER providers and aggregators offering retail and wholesale grid services? If so, how?
  • How frequent should distribution planning consultations be and at what level of local government (e.g., city or county level)? What should be the scope of outreach, including to tribal governments?
  • Should Distribution Planning Process (DPP) outreach be coordinated and/or combined with associated community engagement activities (e.g., those required by the wildfire mitigation, de-energization, microgrids and resiliency, climate adaptation, and/or other proceedings)?
  • Should DPP outreach play a role in supporting development of community-scale DERs (i.e., DERs smaller than utility scale but significantly larger than typical single-customer residential DERs).

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Proceeding Schedule
Activity
Date
Track 1: Distribution Planning Process and Data Improvements (Phase 1: Near-Term Actions)
Electrification Impacts Study Scope and Objectives Workshop 12/7/2021
Integration Capacity Analysis and Grid Needs Assessment Alignment and Utility Workplan Reports February 2022
Data Portals Improvement (Workshop, Focus Group) Q1 2022
Additional Guiding Questions and California Energy Commission Report Comments Q1 2022
Distribution Investment Deferral Framework Guidelines Q2 2022
Distribution Forecasting Working Group Workshop Q2 2022
Electrification Impacts Study and Workshop Q2 2022
Community Engagement Needs Assessment Scope and Objectives Workshop Q3 2022
Electrification Impacts Staff Proposal Q4 2022
Utility Integration Capacity Analysis Refinements 1st Annual Reports and Workshop Q4 2022
Deadline to Request Evidentiary Hearing for Track 1, Phase 1 issues November 30, 2022
Proposed Decision (Phase 1) Q1 2023
Track 1 (Phase 2: Distribution Planning Process Improvement)
Community Engagement Needs Assessment Report and Workshop Q1 2024
Data Portals Improvement Technical Report Q2 2024
Distribution Planning Process Improvement Workshop Q2 2024
Deadline to request Evidentiary Hearing for Track 1, Phase 2 Issues July 31, 2024
DPP Guidelines Staff Proposal and Workshop Q3 2024
Proposed Decision (Phase 2) Q1 2025
Track 2: Distribution System Operator Roles and Responsibilities
White Paper and Workshop Q1 2022
Future Grid/Distribution System Operator Workshop Series Q2 and Q3 2022
Deadline to request Evidentiary Hearing for Track 2 issues April 30, 2023
Future Grid/Distribution System Operator Roles and Responsibilities Technical Report and En Banc Q3 2023
Proposed Decision Q4 2023
Track 3: Smarter Inverter Operationalization and Grid Modernization Planning (Phase 1: Smart Inverter Operationalization)
Smart Inverter Operationalization Working Group Workshop 1/25/2022
Smart Inverter Operationalization Working Group Q1 2022-Q1 2023
Deadline to request Evidentiary Heading for Track 3, Phase 1 issues January 31, 2023
Smart Inverter Operationalization Working Group Report Q1 2023
Smart Inverter Operationalization Staff Proposal and Workshop Q2 2023
Proposed Decision (Phase 1) Q3 2023
Track 3 (Phase 2: Grid Modernization Planning and Cost Recovery)
Deadline to request Evidentiary Hearing in Track 3, Phase 2 issues October 31, 2023
Grid Modernization Plan Improvement and General Rate Case Alignment Staff Proposal and Workshop Q1 2024
Proposed Decision (Phase 2) Q2 2024
R. 22-11-013: Distributed Energy Resource Program Cost-Effectiveness, Data Access and Use, and Equipment Performance Standards

Proposed scope includes:

  • On November 23, 2022, the Commission issued an Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) to achieve consistency of cost effectiveness assessments, improve data access and use, and consider equipment performance standards for distributed energy resource (DER) customer programs. As a successor proceeding to Rulemaking (R.) 14-10-003, this rulemaking is the procedural framework for advancing the vision articulated in the customer programs track of the Commission’s DER Action Plan 2.0, which states:
  • “The DER Action Plan’s Customer Programs Track focuses on improving coordination, planning and developing consistent metrics across DER proceedings related to customer programs to maximize their contributions to [greenhouse gas (GHG)] reductions and other state energy goals. The goal is to enable all customers to effectively manage their energy usage in a manner that ensures equitable participation and distribution of benefits, alignment with evolving rate design and load flexibility, alignment with distribution planning objectives, and alignment with integrated resource planning objectives.”
  • A pre-hearing conference (PHC) was held on March 29, 2023, to address the issues of law and fact, determine the need for hearing, set the schedule for resolving the matter, and address other matters as necessary.

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Proceeding Schedule
Activity
Date
Track 1
Party Comments on Societal Cost Test and Air Quality Research Results April 28, 2023
Issuance of Staff Proposal on the 2024 ACC July 2023
Workshops on the Staff ACC Proposal August 2023
Proposed Decision for the Societal Cost Test, or Air Quality Research Results TBD
Discovery completed on the ACC Proposal 8 weeks after issuance of Staff Proposal
Opening Testimony served 12 weeks after issuance of Staff Proposal
Rebuttal Testimony served 15 weeks after issuance of Staff Proposal
List of Disputed and Stipulated Issues; Report of Meet and Confer January 9, 2024
Evidentiary hearing January 23-25 2024
Opening briefs February 21, 2024
Reply briefs [Track One submitted] March 13, 2024
Proposed Decision June 2024
Track 2
Ruling requesting party comments on formation, membership, and coordinator for Data Working Groups June 2023
Party comments in response to Ruling on the Formation of Data Working Groups, filed 2-3 weeks after the issuance of the Ruling
Ruling creating Data Working Groups and establishing roles and responsibilities of a facilitator for the Data Working Groups Q3 2023
Workshops for the Data Working Groups TBD
Recommendations from Data Working Groups, served Approximately 12 months after the first workshop is held
Ruling requesting Party Comments on the Recommendations from the Data Working Groups Within two weeks after Recommendations from the Data Working Groups are served
Workshops, if necessary, to discuss Recommendations from the Data Working Groups TBD
Party Comments on the Recommendations from the Data Working Group, filed (Track Two submitted) Three weeks after the conclusion of workshops
Proposed Decision(s) addressing recommendations from the Data Working Groups No later than 90 days after Party Comments on Data Working Group Recommendations are filed
R. 23-12-008: Transportation Electrification Policy and Infrastructure

This rulemaking continues the Commission’s oversight of the development of infrastructure to support the acceleration of transportation electrification. This rulemaking also establishes a venue for considering future transportation electrification policy matters. This proceeding may consider the development of rates if a substantial need arises. This proceeding is the successor to Rulemaking (R.) 18-12-006.

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Engagement Completed
R.22-07-005: Demand Flexibility through Electric Rates

On July 14, 2022, the Commission issued an Order Instituting Rulemaking to establish this proceeding to establish demand flexibility policies and modify electric rates to advance the following objectives: (a) enhance the reliability of California’s electric system; (b) make electric bills more affordable and equitable; (c) reduce the curtailment of renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions associated with meeting the state’s future system load; (d) enable widespread electrification of buildings and transportation to meet the state’s climate goals; (e) reduce long-term system costs through more efficient pricing of electricity; and (f) enable participation in demand flexibility by both bundled and unbundled customers.

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Proceeding Schedule
Track A Event Date
Workshop on income-graduated fixed charge and other Track A issues November 29, 2022
Ruling with staff guidance for parties’ Track A proposals December 2022
Concurrent opening testimony of parties with income-graduated fixed charge proposals March 17, 2023
Reply testimony April 28, 2023
Joint case management statement served by PG&E July 14, 2023
Evidentiary hearing, if needed Late August 2023
Opening briefs (if no hearings) August 25, 2023
Reply briefs (if no hearings) September 29, 2023
Opening briefs (if hearings) September 29, 2023
Reply briefs (if hearings) October 27, 2023
Proposed decision (if no hearings) January 2024
Proposed decision (if hearings) February 2024
Track B Event Date
Workshop on electric rate design principles and demand flexibility rate design principles November 17, 2022
Energy Division forms Working Groups 1 and 2 November 2022
Comments on scoping memo and ruling December 2, 2022
Reply testimony April 28, 2023
Replies to comments on scoping memo and ruling January 4, 2023
Proposed decision on electric rate design principles and demand flexibility design principles March 2023
Workshop on expanding existing pilots Quarter 2 of 2023
Post-workshop ruling requesting comments on expanding pilots Quarter 2 of 2023
Working Group 1 and 2 proposals and reports filed by SCE October 2, 2023
Workshop on Working Group proposals, including consideration of the barriers and needs of low-income and disadvantaged communities October 2023
Comments on Working Group 1 and 2 proposals October 30, 2023
Reply comments on Working Group 1 and 2 proposals November 22, 2023
Proposed decision on remaining issues March 2024
R. 13-11-005: Energy Efficiency Rolling Portfolios

Senate Bill 1389 requires the CEC to: “Conduct assessments and forecasts of all aspects of energy industry supply, production, transportation, delivery and distribution, demand, and prices. The Energy Commission shall use these assessments and forecasts to develop energy policies that conserve resources, protect the environment, ensure energy reliability, enhance the state’s economy, and protect public health and safety.” (Pub. Res. Code § 25301(a)). The CEC adopts an Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) every two years and an update every other year. This proceeding covers the 2021 Integrated Energy Policy Report Update.

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R.24-01-018: Establishing Energization Timelines

This rulemaking is opened to allow the Commission to provide guidelines and set timelines for the energization of electrical corporation customers. This rulemaking seeks to implement certain provisions of Senate Bill 410 (Stats. 2023, ch. 394) and Assembly Bill 50 (Stats. 2023, ch. 317), which require the Commission to establish reasonable average and maximum target energization time periods, and a procedure for customers to report energization delays to the Commission, among other requirements.

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Proceeding Schedule

23-SB-100: SB 100 Joint Agency Report

Icons made by Flat Icons from www.flaticon.comSenate Bill (SB) 100 established a landmark policy requiring renewable energy and zero-carbon resources supply 100 percent of electric retail sales to end-use customers by 2045. It requires the California Energy Commission (CEC), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and California Air Resources Board (CARB) to prepare a report.

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22-ERDD-01: Community Energy Resilience Investment (CERI) Program

Icons made by Flat Icons from www.flaticon.com

The Community Energy Resilience Investment (CERI) program will fund projects across California that increase community energy resilience and reliability, advance state energy and climate goals, improve energy justice and equity, and create good-paying jobs.

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Engagement Completed

Inactive Proceedings

View the proceedings LGSEC has engaged with in the past. The comments submitted for each are included. Click on the proceeding name to expand details.