April 1, 2026

Regulatory Update for April 1, 2026

(Covering March 25, 2026 - March 31, 2026)

Our energy regulatory team has compiled a list of state and federal energy regulatory developments to keep you up to speed on key energy regulatory matters from across the United States. Stoel’s energy regulatory team is always available to answer questions about any of these developments. Click here to meet the energy regulatory team.

Jump to the following jurisdictions:

State Regulatory Agencies

• California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
• California Energy Commission (CEC)
• Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC)
• Pacific Northwest (OPUC, WUTC, BPA)

Federal Regulatory Agencies

• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

Independent System Operators (ISO) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTO)

• California Independent System Operator (CAISO)
• PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM)
• Southwest Power Pool (SPP)

Click here to download this update as a PDF

State Regulatory Agencies

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (CPUC or COMMISSION)[1]

Proposed Decisions and Resolutions

Resolution (Res) E-5417

This Resolution approves with modifications Liberty Utilities (“Liberty Utilities” or “Liberty”) Advice Letters (AL) 248-E, 248-E-A, and 248-E-B to implement an income-graduated fixed charge for residential customers pursuant to D.24-05-028.

Application (A.) 25-06-026 (In the Matter of the Application of Crimson California Pipeline L.P. (PLC-26) for Authority to Increase Rates for Its Crude Oil Pipeline Services)

This decision approves the unopposed request by Crimson California Pipeline L.P. to increase the rates it charges for transportation of crude petroleum products on its Southern California Pipeline System by 10 percent beginning August 1, 2025. The Decision further authorizes the retroactive charge and collection of the difference between rates billed and the approved rate beginning August 1, 2025, including interest calculated at the 90-day commercial paper rate. This decision denies Crimson California Pipeline L.P.’s request in its Miscellaneous Filing for an additional 3.16 percent rate increase beginning August 1, 2025.

Rulemaking (R.) 25-07-013 (Order Instituting Rulemaking to Improve the California Climate Credit)

This decision orders the investor-owned electric and gas utilities in California to implement immediate changes to the residential electric and natural gas Climate Credits to improve customer bill affordability. Climate Credit funds come from California’s greenhouse gas Cap-and-Invest Program, and starting this year, Climate Credits will move to high-usage months to lower customers’ highest electricity and gas bills.         

Voting Meeting

The CPUC will hold a voting meeting in San Francisco, California, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. PT.  The energy-related items on the agenda are below:

Item 4. Resolution E-5440

This Resolution adopts, with modifications, the proposals of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison Company (SCE), and San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E) (IOUs) to establish Integration Capacity Analysis (ICA) remediation plans and baseline reporting pursuant to D.24-10-030. Advice Letters PG&E 7686-E, SCE 5614-E, and SDG&E 4710-E contain separate proposals from each IOU on remediation plans and baseline reporting for their respective ICAs. This Resolution establishes requirements for tracking and reporting issues with ICA that have been identified by the IOUs, parties, and prior orders of the Commission. The progress of the ICA remediation plans and all additional reporting will be included in the Biannual ICA Reports and Quarterly ICA Workshops also established under D.24-10-030.

Item 5. Application (A.) 24-06-001 (Application of San Diego Gas & Electric Company for Approval of: (i) Contract Administration, Least-Cost Dispatch and Power Procurement Activities in 2023, (ii) Costs Related to those Activities Recorded to the Energy Resource Recovery Account, Portfolio Allocation Balancing Account, Power Charge Indifference Adjustment Undercollection Balancing Account, Transition Cost Balancing Account, Local Generating Balancing Account, and Modified Cost Allocation Mechanism Balancing Account in 2023, and (iii) Costs Recorded in Related Regulatory Accounts in 2023)

This decision grants, with the modifications, the Application of SDG&E for approval of its Energy Resource Recovery Account Compliance for Record Period 2023. SDG&E, in discussion with the intervenors to this application, agreed to update its valuation of its Resource Adequacy portfolio, to correct its accounting of its Renewables Portfolio Standard compliance position, and to allocate the revenue from certain battery energy storage systems to a broader set of customers. This decision adopts those proposed changes. This decision finds that SDG&E’s prudently managed activities resulted in a recording a net undercollection of $214.580 million (though this number excludes the amounts in two accounts whose balances are confidential). Finally, this decision authorizes SDG&E to recover the stranded costs from its Green Tariff Shared Renewables programs from all ratepayers via the Public Purpose Programs charge in the equitable manner described herein.

Item 10. Application (A.) 24-04-001 (Application of Southern California Edison Company for a Commission Finding that its Procurement-Related and Other Operations for the Record Period January 1 Through December 31, 2023 Complied with its Adopted Procurement Plan; for Verification of its Entries in the Energy Resource Recovery Account and Other Regulatory Accounts; and for a decrease of $63.195 million in revenue requirement due to a net overcollection recorded in seven accounts)

This decision finds SCE meets the standard for compliance under the Energy Resource Recovery Account (ERRA) regulatory compliance standards for the 2023 Record Year. According to the Decision, SCE complied with all requirements reviewed by the Commission in the ERRA compliance process, during the 2023 Record Year.

Item 11. Application (A.) 24-03-009 (Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company for Approval Under Public Utilities Code Section 851 to Lease Entitlements to Transmission Projects to Citizens Energy Corporation)

PG&E seeks Commission authorization, under California Public Utilities Code Section 851, to lease entitlements of PG&E transmission projects to a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Energy Corporation (Citizens) under the terms and conditions of the Investment Program created by the Development, Coordination, and Option Agreement (DCOA). PG&E also seeks Commission authorization to enter into subsequent second to fifth Option Period Entitlements Leases with Citizens through an expedited Tier 3 Advice Letter process. Finally, PG&E seeks Commission authorization to submit information regarding the executed Entitlement Leases and Citizens’ direct bill-paying assistance, estimated to total up to $450 million over the duration of the five Entitlement Leases, through information-only submittals. This decision does not approve the Option Period Entitlement Leases but authorizes PG&E to file a Tier 3 Advice Letter seeking authorization to enter into each Option Period Entitlements Lease with Citizens for specific transmission projects, with each Advice Letter to be evaluated based on whether they comply with the terms and conditions of the DCOA Investment Program, and whether the transaction will be less favorable than the ratepayer impact of PG&E paying for these same transmission projects through its usual practices.

Item 14. Application (A.) 22-05-006 (In the Matter of the Application of PACIFICORP for an Order Authorizing a General Rate Increase Effective January 1, 2023)

This decision grants the Petition for Modification filed on December 15, 2025, by PacifiCorp, seeking to modify Decision 25-06-052 to allow PacifiCorp to file a Tier 2 Advice Letter to implement its 2025 Post-Test Year Adjustment Mechanism (“PTAM”). This Decision closes the proceeding.

Item 16. Investigation (I.) XX-XX-XXX (Order Instituting Investigation on the Commission’s Own Motion Pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 455.5 and other Commission Authorities to Determine Whether to Eliminate Consideration of Any Portion of the Elkhorn Energy Storage System or to Disallow Any Expenses Related Thereto from Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Rates)

This new Order Instituting Rulemaking allows the Commission to consider any safety considerations associated with PG&E’s Elkhorn Energy Storage System being out of service.

Item 28. Rulemaking (R.) 13-02-008 (Order Instituting Rulemaking to Adopt Biomethane Standards and Requirements, Pipeline Open Access Rules, and Related Enforcement Provisions)

This decision addresses many of the outstanding issues within the Order Instituting Rulemaking to Adopt Biomethane Standards and Requirements, Pipeline Open Access Rules, and Related Enforcement Provisions. This decision: (1) adopts a Cost Containment Mechanism to protect ratepayers from extreme rate impacts; (2) reduces the overall procurement target set in Decision 22-02-025 from 72.8 billion cubic feet annually to 36.4 billion cubic feet annually; (3) extends both the Diverted Organic Waste procurement target and the overall procurement target to 2035; (4) allows all feedstocks to bid into future Utility solicitations; (5) requires all procurement contracts to be submitted via Tier 3 Advice Letter regardless of contract price; and (6) orders modifications to the gas utilities’ draft Renewable Gas Procurement Plans.

Item 29. Rulemaking (R.26-04-XXX) (Order Instituting Rulemaking on California Advanced Electric Rate Design)

In this rulemaking, the Commission will establish advanced electric rate design policies to update residential and non-residential rate structures and their underlying cost inputs so that rates more accurately reflect the cost of providing service, send price signals that support efficient use of grid infrastructure, and allocate costs fairly across all customers. This rulemaking will also address electric rate design issues remaining from Rulemaking 22-07-005, the Demand Flexibility Rulemaking.

Upcoming Events

Energy Efficiency Stakeholder Workshop

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 9:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m., the CPUC will host its Annual Stakeholder Meeting on Energy Efficiency Third-Party Solicitations.  The meeting will be held in person at the Irwindale Conference Center at the SCE Energy Education Center, though a Microsoft Teams meeting link is also available for remote participation.  The workshop will include an overview of recent CPUC policy changes, energy efficiency best practices, and stakeholder presentations, including from IOUs, program implementers, and Energy Division staff. Meeting materials will be posted to the California Energy Efficiency Coordinating Committee webpage.

Joint Agency Workshop Regarding FERC Order No. 1920 and CAISO Transmission Planning

On April 1, 2026, from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. the CAISO, CEC and CPUC will host a joint agency workshop to facilitate conversations with Tribes to incorporate Tribal laws and regulations into long-term transmission planning.

CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION (CEC)

2026 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Update

The CEC has set the following preliminary schedule for the 2026 IEPR.  The schedule will be available on the 2026 IEPR Update page and subject to regular updates.  The initial proposed schedule is as follows:

Task / Event	Date
• Final 2026 IEPR Update Scoping Order released	April 2026
• Adopt order instituting informational proceeding	May 2026
• Public workshops on specific topics	May–December 2026
• Release draft 2026 IEPR Update	October 2026
• Release proposed 2026 IEPR Update	January 2027
• Adopt 2026 IEPR Forecast	January 2027
• Adopt 2026 IEPR Update	February 2027

The CEC’s initial 2026 IEPR Update workshop schedule is now available (and remains subject to change).  According to the workshop schedule, all workshops will be held via Zoom and will run from May through December 2026, as follows:

May 20, 2026: Staff Workshop on Forms & Instructions, 2pm – 4pm

June 19, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Geothermal Energy (Part 1), 10am – 5pm

June 30, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Energy Equity & Environmental Justice, 1pm – 5pm

July 9, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Geothermal Energy (Part 2), 1pm – 5pm

August 5, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Forecast Inputs and Assumptions, 10am – 5pm

August 31, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Load Modifier Inputs and Assumptions, 9am – 4:30pm

November 12, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Load Modifier Draft Results, 10am – 5pm

December 16, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Overall Forecast Results, 10am – 5pm

Staff Workshop on Fusion Research and Development Innovation Initiative

The CEC will host a remote-access staff workshop on April 2, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PT to discuss implementation of its new Fusion Research and Development Innovation Initiative, created pursuant to SB 80 (Caballero, 2025).  The purpose of the initiative is to accelerate the development and growth of fusion energy by advancing fusion science and technology.  The staff workshop will facilitate a discussion on fusion energy research needs and barriers and identify opportunities that could be supported by grant funding under the Fusion Research and Development Innovation Initiative.  Documents for the workshop, including an agenda and access details, will be available here.  Written comments may be submitted to the docket 26-ERDD-01 by April 16, 2026.

Workshops on EV Charger Reliability Reporting and on Interoperability Standards

Workshop on Roaming and Interoperability

The CEC hosted a remote workshop on March 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT to present and discuss concepts related to standardizing communications for Plug & Charge and the EV charging experience.  The purpose of the meeting was to gather industry input as the CEC considers options for establishing minimum standards that enhance the reliability and driver experience across California’s public EV charging infrastructure.  Presentations and a workshop agenda and access details are available on the docket, here.  Written comments can be submitted to the CEC by 5:00 p.m. PT on April 15, 2026.

Workshop on the Regulations for Improved EV Charger Recordkeeping and Reporting, Reliability, and Data Sharing

On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the CEC hosted a staff workshop to explain the recently adopted Regulations for Improved EV Charger Recordkeeping and Reporting, Reliability, and Data Sharing (EV Charger Data and Reliability Standards), which will take effect on April 1, 2026.  Meeting presentations and related materials are available here.

CEC Business Meetings

The next CEC Business Meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2026.  The agenda and supporting materials will be posted here at least 10 days prior to the meeting.

MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (MPUC)

At its April 2, 2026, weekly agenda meeting, the MPUC considered (1) whether to publish a draft rule to amend the definition of “capacity” under Minn. R. 7835.0100, subp. 4, in the state register (Docket No. E999/R-25-86), and (2) approval of Xcel Energy’s proposed implementation of Phase 2 of its Capacity*Connect Program (Docket No. E002/M-25-378).

PACIFIC NORTHWEST (OPUC, WUTC, BPA)

Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC)

At its March 31, 2026, agenda meeting, the OPUC will hold a public hearing and Commissioner Work Session regarding (1) recommendations for performance measures for the Energy Trust of Oregon (Docket No. UM 1158), and (2) PacifiCorp’s application for revision of its interconnection procedures (Docket No. UM 2351).  Additionally, the OPUC will hear two rulemaking dockets, including regarding (1) interconnection actions in response to Executive Order No. 25-25, enacted to address renewable energy development in the state (AR 683), and (2) implementation of 2025 HB 3148 regarding benefits for low-income customers and amendments to  the No-Match Provision (Docket No. AR 675).

Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC)

At its March 26, 2026, open meeting, the WUTC considered the initial tariff filing for Washington Rural Utilities Company (Docket No. UW-260064).

The Washington legislature continues to consider a pair of bills, SB 6171 and HB 2515, that would require Emerging Large Energy Use Facilities (ELEUFs) to purchase their energy and pay for needed infrastructure through new tariffs or contracts developed by the state’s utilities.  However, progress on the bills has slowed after early flourishes of activity. Under the bills, starting in 2031, ELEUFs commencing operation after July 1, 2026, must certify to the state that 80% of the energy used to serve their load in the prior year came from renewable or non-emitting resources, and that they purchased the electricity and renewable energy certificates to substantiate that certification in a “single transaction.”  The laws require ELEUFs to serve their load using 100% renewable or non-emitting resources beginning in 2035.  There has been no movement on SB 6171 in the Senate.  Additionally, there have been no developments regarding HB 2515 following its return to the House Rules Committee for a third reading on March 12, 2026.

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)

On March 31, 2026, BPA hosted a BP-27 pre-proceeding workshop as part of its expedited Section 7(i) rate case process to address the expected financial impact of the Feb. 25, 2026, U.S. District Court of Oregon’s Order and Opinion. The workshop involved staff discussion of the scope of the BP-27 rate case and limited revisions to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2028 Power General Rate Schedule Provisions (GRSPs). More information is available on the BP-27 rate case webpage.

Federal Agencies

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (FERC)

April 2026 Commission Meeting

FERC noticed its April 2026 Commission Meeting, which will take place on April 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET. A webcast link will be available on the week of the meeting.

March 2026 Commission Meeting

FERC held its March 2026 Commission Meeting on March 19. Among other things, FERC issued the following orders:

Reliability Standards

FERC unanimously approved two final rules on grid reliability. The first rule updates 11 Critical Infrastructure Protection standards to enable secure use of virtualization technologies. The second rule addresses strengthening baseline cybersecurity for low‑impact grid systems with new password protocols and intrusion‑detection measures. FERC also approved an updated definition of “control center” to help utilities better identify and protect high‑risk assets.

Electric Quarterly Report (EQR) Changes

FERC approved a new final rule on EQR reporting that adopts the XBRL‑CSV standard as the required format for all EQR filings. As part of the rule, FERC will now require RTOs and ISOs to produce reports containing market participant transaction data, representing an expansion of mandatory data‑reporting obligations beyond traditional EQR filers. The rule also includes modifications and clarifications to existing EQR reporting requirements, such as extending the due date for EQRs to four months after the end of a quarter.

Return on Equity (ROE) New England Transmission Owners Order

FERC issued an order addressing a D.C. Circuit remand of a previous FERC opinion on a complaint challenging the base ROE of transmission owners in New England (NETOs), as well as three other complaints challenging NETOs’ base ROE. The order grants the first complaint, denies the three other complaints, and requires NETOs to establish a 9.57% base ROE. 

CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR (CAISO)

Stakeholder Initiatives: Upcoming Meetings and Deadlines

2025-2026 Transmission Planning Process

The CAISO will now make the draft transmission plan available here by the end of the day on April 7, 2026.  Additionally, the CAISO will host a hybrid public stakeholder meeting for transmission planning process to discuss the draft.  The stakeholder meeting will take place on April 15, 2026.  Meeting registration details can be found here. The registration deadline is April 3, 2026.    

Draft Flexible Capacity Needs Assessment 2027

The CAISO will hold a public stakeholder call on April 2, 2026, to discuss the 2027-2029 draft Flexible Capacity Needs Assessment and the availability assessment hour requirements. More details on the call can be found here.

2027 and 2031 Local Capacity Technical Study Draft Results Call

The CAISO is conducting the local capacity technical study of the ISO tariff and will hold a stakeholder call on April 9, 2026, to present and discuss the proposed final 2027 and 2031 local capacity technical study results. The results will be posted to the 2027 local capacity requirements website. The stakeholder call details can be found here.

Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) Congestion Revenue Allocation Phase 2

The CAISO will host a virtual stakeholder working group call on April 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to continue discussions on Phase 2 of the EDAM congestion revenue allocation initiative. The meeting information is available here.

Interconnection Service Capacity and Deliverability Retention for Non-Operating Generating Facilities Issue Paper

The CAISO has posted the issue paper and straw proposal for the Interconnection Service Capacity and Deliverability Retention for Non-Operating Generating Facilities to the initiative webpage. A stakeholder call will be held on April 6, 2026. The call information can be found here.

PJM INTERCONNECTION LLC (PJM)

Initiatives to Integrate Data Centers

PJM’s Markets and Reliability Committee approved two issue charges to study a temporary “connect‑and‑manage” framework that would allow large loads to interconnect before new generation is built, under which any shortfall between available supply and new demand would be assigned to the entities bringing on large loads. The initiative also calls for development of a new emergency curtailment procedure that would be used only unde constrained conditions to prevent wider system impacts, with the goal of having reforms ready for implementation by the end of the year.

PJM also announced it would launch an expedited Critical Issue Fast Path process to develop a one‑time reliability backstop procurement for additional power and allocate costs to large loads if capacity auction results fall short.

FERC Denies Complaint on PJM’s Data Center Tariff Rules

FERC denied a complaint under Section 206 of the Federal Power Act from the PJM Independent Market Monitor asking FERC to find that PJM would only have the authority to approve new large data center loads if the load could be served reliably, as defined by transmission and capacity adequacy and asking FERC to direct PJM to file tariff language that would explicitly state these requirements.  FERC denied the PJM IMM’s complaint, finding the IMM failed to meet its Section 206 burden to demonstrate that PJM’s tariff was unjust, unreasonable, unduly discriminatory or preferential, or that PJM was violating a statutory or regulatory requirement.

SOUTWEST POWER POOL (SPP)

SPP Expansion

SPP began administering the third expansion of its regional transmission grid on March 31 and April 1 by adding a number of power cooperatives, utilities, power authorities, and transmission associations from Arizona, Colorado, and Utah to SPP’s system.

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[1] Per the CPUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure Rule 14.3, comments on proposed decisions are due 20 days after issuance of the proposed decision, and reply comments are due five days thereafter.  Comments on draft resolutions are due 20 days after the draft resolution appears in the CPUC’s daily calendar, per Rule 14.5.