Find in one place the latest developments in the California Public Utlities Commission's long-term gas planning proceeding (R.20.01.007) as well as all the practical info you'll need to participate successfully in the discussion.
Key Links
The CPUC has opened a proceeding to Establish Policies, Processes, and Rules to Ensure Safe and Reliable Gas Systems in California and perform Long-Term Gas System Planning. This proceeding was launched in the context of local government actions to limit gas expansion and anticipated impacts on gas demand in the future.
Presiding Commissioner: Clifford Rechtschaffen
Presiding Administrative Law Judge: Karl J. Bemesderfer
Proceeding Timeline: Phase 1 and Phase 2
- All Proceeding Documents are on the Docket Card.
- To be added to the Service List (as information only), you need to fill out and submit this form.
- To make a motion to be added as a Party, follow the Rules, Policies, and Procedures. Refer to page 2.
The CPUC has opened a proceeding to Establish Policies, Processes, and Rules to Ensure Safe and Reliable Gas Systems in California and perform Long-Term Gas System Planning. This proceeding was launched in the context of local government actions to limit gas expansion and anticipated impacts on gas demand in the future.
Presiding Commissioner: Clifford Rechtschaffen
Presiding Administrative Law Judge: Karl J. Bemesderfer
Proceeding Timeline: Phase 1 and Phase 2
California’s Building Transition: Recommendations for Gas Transition Regulatory Proceedings at the California Public Utilities Commission
This report, completed by Kiki Velez, student at Stanford University, provides an overview of the regulatory and policy issues concerning the long-term reduction of gas demand and infrastructure needs. The report provides analysis of various options and some initial recommendations for Coalition members to consider.
Summary of the Latest Proceeding Developments:
[10/14/2021] Scoping Memo and Ruling Issued
Commissioner Rechtschaffen issued a scoping memo and ruling that kicks off Phase 2 of the Proceeding. The memo lays out the scope and guiding questions related to three main tracks for Phase 2 of the proceeding -
Up first, Track 2a will aim to determine the appropriate gas infrastructure portfolio for the state’s gas utilities, aligned with state GHG reduction goals. Guiding questions cover:
Track 2c will be focused on both rate design and workforce challenges. On rate design, guiding questions include defining the suite of affordability and other economic concerns for low-income customers and disadvantaged communities, mitigation strategies for rate affordability, and additional financial mechanisms such as accelerated depreciation and securitization to balance costs. Related to workforce, Track 2c will address long-term utility workforce planning, mitigation strategies for a declining gas workforce, and opportunities to set requirements around retraining, job quality, and job access.
[9/23/2021] Ruling Granting Motion for the Filing of Briefs on all Track 1 Issues
After receiving reply comments from parties related mainly to issues of size and type of penalty to be imposed by the Commission in the event of a utility’s prolonged failure to meet design standards, the ALJ issued a ruling denying motions for testimony and evidentiary hearings, citing a relative lack of new disagreement or conflict. The ALJ granted motions for the filing of briefs on all Track 1 issues. Briefs are due October 15, 2021, and reply briefs are due on October 29, 2021.
[7/31/2020] ALJ’s Ruling Seeking Comments from Parties
ALJ Ava Tran sought comments from consumer advocates, utilities and other parties regarding a range of proceeding issues.
[7/21/2020] Gas Proceeding Webinar 2
The second part of the CPUC gas team-led webinar covers Track 1B of the proceeding.
Passcode: Gasplanning123
[7/7/2020] Gas Proceeding Webinar 1
This webinar led by the CPUC’s gas team covers Track 1a of the proceeding.
Password: Gasplanning123
[4/23/2020] Scoping Memo and Ruling Issued
Commissioner Randolph issued a memo defining the questions to be addressed during the proceeding and the process for answering them.
[3/24/2020] Preconference Hearing
ALJ Ava Tran principally discussed requests for party status and other procedural issues. No final rulings were made on scope, schedule or the need for hearings. The transcript is here.
[1/16/2020] Order Instituting a Rulemaking to Establish Policies, Processes, and Rules to Ensure Safe and Reliable Gas Systems in California and perform Long-Term Gas System Planning
This Order Instituting a Rulemaking (OIR) opens up and kicks-off a new proceeding, and includes a scope of the issues that will be included in the proceeding, as well as a schedule (we suggest you treat this as tentative), and how to participate.
Specifically, this OIR laid out the following:
There will be two phases to this proceeding.
Phase 1 seeks to define reliability requirements for gas service. Phase 1a will cover the parameters of existing reliability standards and consider whether updated and new requirements are necessary. Phase 1b will examine how to mitigate the risks that gas supply shortages pose to electric reliability and market prices.
Phase 2 is focused on long-term gas system planning. This Phase is of greater relevance to BDC objectives and looks at whether the projected reduction in gas demand will require regulatory changes. This phase also includes topics such as demand scenarios from greenhouse gas-related laws at the local and state levels.
This report, completed by Kiki Velez, student at Stanford University, provides an overview of the regulatory and policy issues concerning the long-term reduction of gas demand and infrastructure needs. The report provides analysis of various options and some initial recommendations for Coalition members to consider.
Summary of the Latest Proceeding Developments:
[10/14/2021] Scoping Memo and Ruling Issued
Commissioner Rechtschaffen issued a scoping memo and ruling that kicks off Phase 2 of the Proceeding. The memo lays out the scope and guiding questions related to three main tracks for Phase 2 of the proceeding -
- Track 2a: Gas Infrastructure;
- Track 2b: Safety, Data, Process; and
- Track 2c: Gas Revenues and Rate Design, Workforce Issues.
Up first, Track 2a will aim to determine the appropriate gas infrastructure portfolio for the state’s gas utilities, aligned with state GHG reduction goals. Guiding questions cover:
- Considerations around size and cost thresholds for considering gas infrastructure projects;
- Criteria for determining the repair or replacement of aging transmission infrastructure;
- Criteria for assessing de-rating opportunities in line with declining demand;
- Criteria for assessing pipelines for proactive decommissioning, including safety, customer class, community characteristics such as disadvantaged communities (DAC), and non-pipeline alternatives;
- Planning and procedural processes for local electric capacity standards;
- and more.
Track 2c will be focused on both rate design and workforce challenges. On rate design, guiding questions include defining the suite of affordability and other economic concerns for low-income customers and disadvantaged communities, mitigation strategies for rate affordability, and additional financial mechanisms such as accelerated depreciation and securitization to balance costs. Related to workforce, Track 2c will address long-term utility workforce planning, mitigation strategies for a declining gas workforce, and opportunities to set requirements around retraining, job quality, and job access.
[9/23/2021] Ruling Granting Motion for the Filing of Briefs on all Track 1 Issues
After receiving reply comments from parties related mainly to issues of size and type of penalty to be imposed by the Commission in the event of a utility’s prolonged failure to meet design standards, the ALJ issued a ruling denying motions for testimony and evidentiary hearings, citing a relative lack of new disagreement or conflict. The ALJ granted motions for the filing of briefs on all Track 1 issues. Briefs are due October 15, 2021, and reply briefs are due on October 29, 2021.
[7/31/2020] ALJ’s Ruling Seeking Comments from Parties
ALJ Ava Tran sought comments from consumer advocates, utilities and other parties regarding a range of proceeding issues.
[7/21/2020] Gas Proceeding Webinar 2
The second part of the CPUC gas team-led webinar covers Track 1B of the proceeding.
Passcode: Gasplanning123
[7/7/2020] Gas Proceeding Webinar 1
This webinar led by the CPUC’s gas team covers Track 1a of the proceeding.
Password: Gasplanning123
[4/23/2020] Scoping Memo and Ruling Issued
Commissioner Randolph issued a memo defining the questions to be addressed during the proceeding and the process for answering them.
[3/24/2020] Preconference Hearing
ALJ Ava Tran principally discussed requests for party status and other procedural issues. No final rulings were made on scope, schedule or the need for hearings. The transcript is here.
[1/16/2020] Order Instituting a Rulemaking to Establish Policies, Processes, and Rules to Ensure Safe and Reliable Gas Systems in California and perform Long-Term Gas System Planning
This Order Instituting a Rulemaking (OIR) opens up and kicks-off a new proceeding, and includes a scope of the issues that will be included in the proceeding, as well as a schedule (we suggest you treat this as tentative), and how to participate.
Specifically, this OIR laid out the following:
There will be two phases to this proceeding.
Phase 1 seeks to define reliability requirements for gas service. Phase 1a will cover the parameters of existing reliability standards and consider whether updated and new requirements are necessary. Phase 1b will examine how to mitigate the risks that gas supply shortages pose to electric reliability and market prices.
Phase 2 is focused on long-term gas system planning. This Phase is of greater relevance to BDC objectives and looks at whether the projected reduction in gas demand will require regulatory changes. This phase also includes topics such as demand scenarios from greenhouse gas-related laws at the local and state levels.