California Public Utilities Commission Issues Regulatory Update on Electric Integrated Resource Planning and Procurement Processes

Strategic Insights -

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has issued an Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) to continue oversight of electric integrated resource planning and procurement processes. Golden State Clean Energy, LLC (GSCE) has submitted a comment on the OIR, emphasizing the importance of implementing SB 887 and addressing the reliance on fossil-fueled generation resources in local areas. GSCE recommends using data from CAISO's 2024-2025 Transmission Plan to meet SB 887 goals and encourages the Commission to focus on PG&E area resource portfolio development to ensure sufficient renewable energy and battery storage in the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CPUC has issued an OIR to continue oversight of electric integrated resource planning and procurement processes, with a focus on addressing the reliance on fossil-fueled generation resources in local areas.
  • GSCE recommends using data from CAISO's 2024-2025 Transmission Plan to meet SB 887 goals, citing the importance of increasing renewable energy and battery storage in the region.
  • The Commission should recognize the potential for significant quantities of generating resources provided by the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan (VCIP) and direct CAISO to identify the transmission infrastructure necessary to deliver more Fresno area resources to PG&E Kern and the Greater Bay Area.
  • GSCE supports the Commission's focus on solar in the Fresno area and believes additional solar, storage, and transmission should be planned in the Fresno transmission area of the San Joaquin Valley.
  • The Commission's latest resource portfolio provided to CAISO for the 2025-2026 transmission planning process has taken important steps to increase the amount of planned solar and storage in the San Joaquin Valley.

Statistics:

  • 20 GW of solar and 20 GW of battery storage over the longer term are expected to be provided by the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan (VCIP).
  • 13% of the total capacity (MW) used for gas-fired generation in PG&E Kern and the Greater Bay Area (as of the 2039 base case).
  • 2030: the year in which VCIP permitting and planning is expected to deliver significant new capacity, with the potential to begin delivering 20 GW of solar and 20 GW of battery storage.

Sources:

  • Order Instituting Rulemaking, R.25-06-019, July 2, 2025
  • CAISO 2024-25 Transmission Plan, Appendix G, Table G.7-4, G.7-8, G.7-12, May 30, 2025
  • Golden State Clean Energy, LLC, Opening Comment on Order Instituting Rulemaking, August 1, 2025