Oversight of Energy Efficiency Portfolios: Key Takeaways and Statistic

Strategic Insights -

The California Public Utilities Commission has issued a document outlining the Order Instituting Rulemaking for Oversight of Energy Efficiency Portfolios, Policies, Programs, and Evaluation. The Joint Committee on Energy and Environmental Policy, Western States Council of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, the California State Association of Electrical Workers, and the California State Pipe Trades Council have submitted comments on the Energy Efficiency Oversight Proceeding. This rulemaking aims to establish a forum for regulatory issues related to energy efficiency programs, including oversight and administration.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Energy Efficiency Oversight Proceeding has identified several preliminary issues to be resolved, including natural gas measure policy, community choice aggregator oversight, and policy guidance for 2026 portfolio applications.
  • The Commission has established a forum for regulatory issues related to energy efficiency programs, which is a successor rulemaking to R.13-11-005, closed in January 2025.
  • The Labor Coalition, comprising JCEEP, WSC SMART, CSAEW, and CSPTC, has submitted opening comments on the Energy Efficiency Oversight Proceeding, emphasizing the need for workforce standards, which surprisingly, are missing from the issues to be resolved.
  • The Commission's rules of practice and procedure mandate that the Energy Efficiency Oversight Proceeding be conducted in a manner consistent with the Commission's precedent and applicable law.
  • The Labor Coalition recommends that the Commission consider the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency policies, as well as the impact on workers and communities.

Statistics:

  • The Energy Efficiency Oversight Proceeding has identified 9 preliminary issues to be resolved, including natural gas measure policy and community choice aggregator oversight.
  • The Commission has established a forum for regulatory issues related to energy efficiency programs, which is a successor rulemaking to R.13-11-005, closed in January 2025.
  • The Joint Committee on Energy and Environmental Policy, Western States Council of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, the California State Association of Electrical Workers, and the California State Pipe Trades Council have submitted comments on the Energy Efficiency Oversight Proceeding.
  • The Labor Coalition has emphasized the need for workforce standards in their opening comments.

Sources:

  • Comments submitted by the Joint Committee on Energy and Environmental Policy, Western States Council of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, the California State Association of Electrical Workers, and the California State Pipe Trades Council to the California Public Utilities Commission on the Energy Efficiency Oversight Proceeding, May 19, 2025.
  • Rules of Practice and Procedure of the California Public Utilities Commission.
  • Order Instituting Rulemaking for Oversight of Energy Efficiency Portfolios, Policies, Programs, and Evaluation, R. 25-04-010.