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PG&E’s motion : (1) requested the following: (i) “Increase the 2025 capital costs cap from $618 million to $2.115 billion”; (ii) “Increase the 2026 capital costs cap from $669 million to $2.302 billion”; (iii) “Authorize the ability to spend authorized amounts across 2025 and 2026”; and (iv) “Eliminate the secondary revenue requirement (RRQ) caps for 2024-2026”; and (2) said that the increases “would result in a bundled average rate impact of 1.8% and a typical residential bill impact of $3.65/month; these impacts would be mitigated by additional revenue resulting from increased load that puts downward pressure on rates.”

As background the CPUC opened this rulemaking to implement Senate Bill 410 of 2023 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 394) and Assembly Bill 50 of 2023 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 317), which require the CPUC to establish “reasonable average and maximum target energization time periods, and a procedure for customers to report energization delays to the Commission.”

On October 11, 2024, Powering America’s Commercial Transportation (PACT) filed request for rehearing.  Of note, PACT argued that CPUC erred by interpreting PUC “§ 453 as imposing a blanket prohibition on prioritization based on project types, and by disregarding state law that requires prioritization of certain project types,” specifically, “SB 410 explicitly identifies ‘charging stations for [vehicles]’ as a problem area subject to energization delays” and “confirms the policy of the state that utilities ‘promptly energize new customers, including by ensuring that… new electric vehicle charging stations… can be used without delay caused by a failure of the utility to implement energization projects.”

On October 17, 2024, the ALJ issued a ruling setting deadlines for responses to PG&E’s motion to revise cost caps. 

On October 18, 2024, the ALJ issued an amended scoping memo and ruling.  Phase 2 will consider PG&E’s proposed cost cap modifications, including potential impacts on environmental and social justice communities.

The utilities must file individual reports to the CPUC demonstrating that they have energized at least 80 percent of customers by 12/1/24.

The utilities must submit the final template with recorded data in their first annual Tier 1 Advice Letter by 3/31/25. The second biannual energization data report must be filed by 9/20/25.

Next Steps:

• Phase 2: PG&E Cost Cap Modification
• PG&E reply to party comments on its motion to revise cost caps due by 10/31/24. Status conference scheduled for 11/5/24.
• PG&E direct testimony and replies to comments due by 11/21/24; intervenor direct testimony due by 12/2/24; PG&E rebuttal testimony due by 12/13/24.
• Evidentiary hearing (if necessary), scheduled for 12/30/24.

If no evidentiary hearing is held, opening briefs due by 12/30/24; reply briefs due by 1/6/25. If an evidentiary hearing is held, opening briefs due by 1/13/25; reply briefs due by 1/24/25.

If no evidentiary hearing is held, proposed decision expected in 2/25; final decision expected in 3/25.

If evidentiary hearing is held, proposed decision expected in 3/25; final decision expected in 4/25.

See main docket link for all filings.

PG&E Motion (10/04/2024)
R2401018 (Opened 05/30/2024)
Order Instituting Rulemaking to Establish Energization Timelines.