April 15, 2026

Regulatory Update for April 15, 2026

(Covering April 8, 2026 - April 14, 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)
• Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)
• PJM Interconnection (PJM)
• ISO-New England (ISO-NE)

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 ALJ-485. This resolution approves modifications to the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (Title 20, Division 1, of the California Code of Regulations) as set forth in Appendix A of the Resolution. The modifications are intended to update the Rules of Practice and Procedure to reflect statutory changes, conform to current Commission General Orders and practice, and to make various technical changes.

Rulemaking 18-07-003 (Order Instituting Rulemaking to Continue Implementation and Administration, and Consider Further Development, of California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program).  This decision denies the March 6, 2025, petition to modify Decision (D.) 20-08-043, filed by the Bioenergy Association of California, on procedural grounds. The petition sought to extend or remove the end date of the Bioenergy Market Adjusting Tariff and proposes other programmatic changes.  The Commission reasons that the petition fails to meet the requirements of Rule 16.4 of the California Public Utilities Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure because these modifications could have, and should have, been sought within one year of the issuance of D.20-08-043.

Voting Meeting

The CPUC held a voting meeting in San Francisco, California, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. PT.  The energy-related results 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 & 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 (ERRA), 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 ERRA 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 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 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.  The proposed decision finds that the entries SCE recorded in 2023 in the balancing accounts and memorandum accounts reviewed in this application are correct, reasonable, and comply with Commission directives. 

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 (Pub. Util.) Code § 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.  This decision closes the proceeding.  

Item 16.  Investigation (I.) 26-04-008 (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 Order Instituting Investigation (OII) is opened on the Commission’s own motion pursuant to Pub. Util. Code § 451, § 455.5(c), and Rule 5.1 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure.  The purpose of this OII is to determine whether the Elkhorn Energy Storage System (Elkhorn ESS) has remained out of service for nine or more consecutive months and qualifies as a “generation or production facility” under Pub. Util. Code § 455.5; and whether the Commission should disallow costs related to the Elkhorn ESS from the rates of PG&E pursuant to Pub. Util. Code § 455.5 or other statutory authorities. Additionally, this OII directs PG&E to establish a memorandum account, effective immediately, to track its authorized revenue requirement and all revenues PG&E receives for its normal, business-as-usual costs to own and operate the Elkhorn ESS.  

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.26-04-009) (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.

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 2026 IEPR Update current workshop schedule (which remains subject to change) is set forth below.  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, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.

June 19, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Geothermal Energy (Part 1), 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

June 30, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Energy Equity & Environmental Justice, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

July 9, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Geothermal Energy (Part 2), 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

August 20, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Forecast Inputs and Assumptions, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

August 31, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Load Modifier Inputs and Assumptions, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

November 12, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Load Modifier Draft Results, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

December 14, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Overall Forecast Results, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Staff Workshop on Fusion Research and Development Innovation Initiative

The CEC held a workshop on April 2, 2026, 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 facilitated a discussion on fusion energy research needs and barriers and identified 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, are available here.  Written comments may be submitted to the docket 26-ERDD-01 by April 16, 2026.  

Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC)

On April 2, 2026, the CEC circulated a “Save The Date” for the CEC’s annual EPIC Symposium indicating that the event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the California Natural Resources Agency building (715 P Street) in Sacramento, California.  More details will be provided when made available by the CEC.

CEC Business Meetings

The next CEC Business Meeting is scheduled for April 27, 2026.  The agenda and supporting materials will be made available here at least 10 days prior to the meeting. 

MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (MPUC)

At its April 9, 2026, agenda meeting, the MPUC met to consider: (1) rescinding approvals of Minnesota Power’s Nemadji Trail Energy Center-related affiliated interest agreements (Docket No. E015/AI-17-568); (2) approval of Otter Tail Power Company’s investments in Distributed Solar Energy Standard Projects (Docket No. E017/M-25-338); (3) approval of Xcel Energy’s Petition for approval of its 2026 Renewable Energy Standard Rider revenue requirements (Docket No. E002/M-25-400); (4) reconsideration of its decision to approve the site permit amendment for the Big Bend Wind Project (Docket No. IP7013-WS-19-619); (5) acceptance of the Certificate of Need application for the Maple River to Cuyuna 345kV Transmission Line Project (Docket No. E015, ET2, E017/CN-25-109); and (6) acceptance of the Certificate of Need application for the Gopher to Badger Link 765kV High Voltage Transmission Line Project (Docket No. ET3, E002/CN-25-121).

PACIFIC NORTHWEST (OPUC, WUTC, BPA)

Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC)

The Washington legislature continues to consider a pair of bills, SB 6171 and HB 2515, although progress on the bills has slowed in recent weeks.  The bills 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. 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 would 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.

Federal Agencies

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (FERC)

Senate Testimony on Proposed Legislation

The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources will receive testimony from FERC on six pending bills, including a bill to reform the interconnection queue, a bill to require FERC to review regulations affecting grid reliability, and a bill to require transmission organizations to allow aggregators of retail customers to submit organized wholesale electric markets bids that aggregate demand flexibility of customers.  The hearing will take place on April 15, 2026, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT and will be webcast live here.

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.  The meeting’s agenda may be found here.

Electric Transmission Formula Rate Process Workshop

FERC noticed a workshop on FERC’s electric transmission formula rate processes on May 12, 2026, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET.  FERC stated its workshop will provide a forum for Commission staff, jurisdictional utilities, and transmission formula rate data users to discuss: (1) an overview of the mechanics of transmission formula rates; (2) transmission formula rate implementation protocols; (3) transmission formula rate annual updates; (4) the transmission formula rate audit program; (5) common compliance issues in transmission formula rates; and (6) the Commission’s regulatory accounting program.

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

CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR (CAISO)

Stakeholder Initiatives: Upcoming Meetings and Deadlines

2025-2026 Transmission Planning Process

The CAISO made the draft transmission plan available here 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. 

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.-12 p.m. to continue discussions on Phase 2 of the EDAM congestion revenue allocation initiative.  The meeting information is available here.

Day-Ahead Market Enhancements (DAME): Configurable Parameters Implementation Working Group Meeting.  

The CAISO will host a DAME Configurable Parameters implementation working group meeting on April 16, 2026.  During this meeting, the CAISO will present performance analysis results for the parameter values currently being used in Parallel Operations.  Meeting details can be found here.  The CAISO is requesting written comments for this working group by end of day April 24, 2026.

Transmission Development Forum: Updated Transmission Planning Process Workbook.  

The CAISO has posted an updated Transmission Planning Process (TPP) workbook.  The updates correct errors in submitted in-service dates for some PG&E projects.

MIDCONTINENT INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR (MISO)

MISO Requests Deferred Accounting Treatment of Interest on Interconnection Deposits

MISO filed a request with FERC to defer the accounting treatment of interest owed on refunded generation interconnection queue deposits, citing a surge in project withdrawals tied to recent queue reforms and unprecedented queue growth.  MISO expects to owe significant accumulated interest on more than $2 billion in deposits as large numbers of projects exit the queue, which MISO notes, if expensed immediately, could cause “unnecessary rate volatility” for customers.  To help prevent rate increases, MISO proposes recording interest owed on withdrawals from DPP‑2026 and earlier cycles as a regulatory asset (FERC Account 182.3) and amortizing it at no more than $7 million per month, while continuing to pay interconnection customers their full refunds with interest on schedule.  The filing seeks an effective date of March 31, 2026, and an expedited order by May 15, 2026.

PJM INTERCONNECTION LLC (PJM)

Reliability Backstop Procurement Proposal

PJM released a paper proposing a two-phased Reliability Backstop Procurement mechanism to assist with resource adequacy, under which PJM will first allow for bilateral contracting between direct parties and subsequently will administer central procurement to acquire remaining MWs.  PJM states the Reliability Backstop Procurement is a one-time, transitional procurement of capacity designed to address PJM’s unprecedented load growth and which PJM does not intend to be a long-term fix for the RTO’s resource adequacy issues.

ISO-NEW ENGLAND (ISO-NE)

Regional System Plan Update

ISO-NE provided an update on regional transmission investments, noting that an estimated $282 million in power transmission reliability investments are on the horizon in ISO-NE’s territory through 2029.  ISO-NE notes that of the 14 active projects, 10 are planned, two are under construction, and two are proposed.

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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.