July 29, 2026

Regulatory Update for July 29, 2026

(Covering July 22, 2026 - July 28, 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)
• California Air Resources Board (CARB)
• Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC)
• Pacific Northwest (OPUC, WUTC)

White House

• White House

Federal Regulatory Agencies

• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

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

• California Independent System Operator (CAISO)
• 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

None to report.

Voting Meeting

The next CPUC voting meeting will be on August 13 in San Francisco, California, at 11 a.m. PT, and the meeting agenda will be posted 10 days in advance.  The energy-related results for the July 16 Voting Meeting are below:

Item 2. Application (A.) 24-08-004 (Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company for a Limited Capital Structure Adjustment)

In this application, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) requests permission to deviate from its authorized capital rate structure, governed by Affiliate Transaction Rule IX B.  Specifically, PG&E seeks to exclude $2.6 billion in expenses related to the Dixie Fire ($277 million at the time of filing), the Kincade Fire (approximately $1.2 billion at time of filing), and the Department of Water Resources loan (approximately $1.4 billion) when calculating its debt-to-equity ratio.  The decision denies PG&E’s requested relief and finds that (1) the request does not qualify for an Affiliate Transaction Rule waiver, and (2) it would not be in the public interest to grant a deviation from PG&E’s recently adopted capital rate structure.  Held to August 13.

Item 3. Resolution E-5455

This resolution approves, with modifications, PG&E’s Advice Letter (AL) 7785-E, filed on December 18, 2025, requesting Commission approval of an exceptional case agreement between PG&E and Google LLC to support the energization of a new 250 megawatt transmission-level retail electric load at 230 kilovolts (kV) in San Jose, California.  Held to August 13.

Item 5. Resolution G-3616

This resolution approves Southern California Gas Company’s (SoCalGas) AL 6442-G, filed on February 7, 2025, requesting authority to recover the undercollected balance in its Storage Integrity Management Program Balancing Account.  SoCalGas seeks recovery of an undercollection of $54.4 million as of December 2024, associated with incurred Storage Integrity Management Program expenditures during Test Year 2019 General Rate Case cycle (2019-2023), consistent with cost recovery mechanism adopted in Decision (D.) 19-09-051.  Approved.

Item 6. A.25-10-004 (Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company to increase its authority to finance short-term borrowing needs by $2.0 billion to an aggregate amount not to exceed $10.5 billion)

This decision grants, in part, PG&E’s request to increase its authorized amount of financing for its short-term borrowing needs.  Specifically, this decision authorizes PG&E to increase its authorized amount of financing for its short-term borrowing needs by $1.0 billion, or half of PG&E’s total requested increase, up to an aggregate amount not to exceed $9.5 billion, subject to the conditions specified in the proposed decision.  This decision does not address the associated costs, expenditures, or capital projects that may be financed through the short-term debt authorized by the proposed decision, which will be subject to consideration in future reasonableness review applications.  Held to August 13.

Item 12. A.24-09-001 (Application of Southwest Gas Corporation for Authority to Increase Rates and Charges for Gas Service in California, Effective January 1, 2026)

This decision resolves remaining contested issues in this proceeding.  It establishes the gas utility’s capital structure, return in common equity, the operating revenues, and a rate increase of 5.17% for the Northern California/South Lake Tahoe territory, and a rate increase of 22.36% for southern California.  Held to August 13.

Item 14. A.23-09-001 (Application of PG&E for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Authorizing the Construction of the Northern San Joaquin 230 kV Transmission Project)

This decision grants PG&E’s request for a certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing the construction of the Northern San Joaquin 230 kV Transmission Project subject to certain mitigation measures.  This decision finds and certifies that the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Northern San Joaquin 230 kV Transmission Project meets the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.  Signed, D.26-07-042.

Item 19. Resolution E-5470. 

This resolution approves amendments to PG&E’s power purchase agreements with Atlas Solar XII, LLC and Atlas Solar XIII, LLC.  The power purchase agreement amendments extend the expected initial delivery date from December 1, 2027 to September 1, 2028.  Approved.

Events

California Climate Credit Workshop

On August 11, 2026, the Commission will hold a workshop to discuss the Assigned Commissioner’s proposal concepts, address data questions, provide a forum for parties to vet proposal ideas, discuss proposal requirements, and gather public input.  The agenda for the workshop is available on the climate credit service list.  The workshop will be held in the Courtyard room at the Commission’s headquarters at 505 Van Ness, San Francisco.  The Commission encourages in-person participation, but staff will provide Webex functionality for remote participation.  Parties that would like to raise proposal ideas during that portion of the agenda are asked to email adam.banasiak@cpuc.ca.gov.

Interagency Public Briefing on Safety Culture and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)

The Commission, in collaboration with the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services will host the Interagency Public Briefing on Safety Culture and PSPS on August 20, 2026.  The public briefing will take place at the Commission’s auditorium, located at 505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco.  Access for remote attendance can be found here.  The agenda and presentation decks can be found here.

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 is available on the 2026 IEPR Update page.

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 workshop schedule (which remains subject to change) is set forth below.  According to the workshop schedule, all workshops will be held via Zoom and the remaining workshops through December 2026 will run as follows:

July 9, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Geothermal Energy (Part 2), 10 a.m.–5 p.m. PT

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

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

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

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

For the two-day Workshop on Geothermal Energy held on June 19, 2026 and July 9, 2026, written comments were due to Docket No. 26-IEPR-04 by July 23, 2026.

Distributed Electricity Backup Assets (DEBA) Resource Planning and Reliability

The CEC is seeking public comments on the proposed draft solicitation for the Proposition 4 DEBA Grant Program.  The draft solicitation is available at Docket No. 22-RENEW-01.  The proposed solicitation is focused on supporting the deployment of new Distributed Energy Resources that can improve the reliability of California’s electrical grid during extreme events.  The CEC hosted a virtual public workshop to discuss the proposed draft solicitation on June 23, 2026.  Workshop information is available here.  Written comments were due by July 15, 2026.

Demand Access Working Group Workshops

Data Center Load

The CEC announced an upcoming Demand Analysis Working Group (DAWG) meeting that will be held on Wednesday, August 12, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. PT.  This meeting will focus on data center impacts and forecasting updates.  The CEC and load serving entities will discuss several topics including:

• Data center pipelines  
• Data collection efforts
• Any updates in forecast methodology
• Additional data that could be shared to enhance CEC’s forecasting efforts
• Bring-your-own generation/hybrid supply models

A workshop agenda and materials will be posted in advance of the webinar to the DAWG webpage. 

IEPR Forecast Inputs & Assumptions

The CEC will host a DAWG meeting on Friday, August 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT to discuss inputs and assumptions for these 2026 IEPR forecast components.  The meeting will cover topics such as economic and demographic projections, updated behind the meter and storage adoption trends, and transportation electrification scenarios. The workshop will be held remotely, and access details are available on the DAWG webpage.

Transportation Electrification

Implementation Workshop for Electric Vehicle Charger Data and Reliability Standards

The CEC held a workshop on July 22, 2026 to discuss the technical implementation details and data submission process of the EV Charger Data and Reliability Standards.  These regulations, which became effective on April 1, 2026, require action by many operators of EV charging stations in California, including those that do not receive state or ratepayer funding.  Additional information is available on the EV Charger Data and Reliability Standards webpage.

Electric School Bus Grant Funding

On April 6, 2026, the CEC released the Reliable Electric Charging for Eligible School-bus Sites (RECESS) grant solicitation, which makes up to $22 million available for projects that will install charging infrastructure to support electric school buses.  RECESS provides funding for projects that install new charging ports and/or replace eligible existing charging ports at an applicant’s bus yard or depot.  Complete project requirements are provided in Section II.B. of the solicitation manual.  Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply before August 31, 2026; applications may be submitted through the Energy Commission Agreement Management System.

Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC)

The CEC will host its annual EPIC Symposium on September 29, 2026, both in person at the California Natural Resources Agency building at 715 P Street in Sacramento, California and via remote access.  Registration is now live and the Symposium agenda is available here.

CEC Business Meetings

The CEC held a special closed session business meeting on July 28, 2026.  The next regular CEC business meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2026.  An agenda and supporting materials will be available here at least 10 days prior to the meeting.

CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD (CARB)

CARB Annual Report on Climate Investments

CARB released its 2026 Annual Report to the Legislature on California Climate Investments, detailing how the California’s Cap-and-Invest program has generated $36.2 billion for climate investments, $15.5 billion of which have been implemented through over 600,000 projects.

Next Stop to Zero Webinar

CARB will host a webinar on August 5, 2026 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT to hear presentations and engage discussions from various subject matter experts, incentive and funding program representatives, and fleet advisors to discuss adoption of zero-emission technologies. Zoom access details are available here.

MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (MPUC)

At its July 30, 2026, weekly agenda meeting, the MPUC will consider: (1) additional information or filing requirements for the Integrated Distribution Plans (IDP) of Dakota Electric Association, Minnesota Power (MP), Otter Tail Power Company (OTP), and Xcel Energy (Docket Nos. E111/M-25-139; E015/M-25-140; E017/M-25-141; E002/M-25-142); (2) acceptance of Dakota Electric Association’s 2025 IDP (Docket No. E111/M-25-139); (3) acceptance of MP’s IDP, and acceptance or modification of MP’s 2025 Transportation Electrification Plan (TEP) (Docket No. E015/M-25-140); (4) acceptance of OTP’s 2025 IDP, and acceptance or modification of OTP’s TEP (Docket No. E017/M-25-141); and (5) acceptance of Xcel Energy’s 2025 IDP (Docket No. E002/M-25-142).

PACIFIC NORTHWEST (OPUC, WUTC, BPA)

Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC)

On July 27, 2026, the OPUC held a public comment hearing regarding Pacific Power’s request for a general rate revision (Docket No. UE 470).  More information is here.

Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC)

On July 30, 2026, the WUTC held its open meeting to consider, in relevant part, (1) Puget Sound Energy’s Annual Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) mechanism filing, wherein it requested approval for revisions to Schedule 95 resulting from a PCA surcharge deferral balance decrease of $37.1 million, or 37.2 percent (UE-260337); (2) Avista Corporation’s revisions to its Renewable Energy Credit Mechanism, which would increase electric revenue by $6.6 million, to true-up the previous year’s costs and forecast costs for the next year (UE-260448); and (3) Avista Corporation’s revisions to its Demand Side Management tariff schedule to increase revenues by $6.3 million (2.3 percent), which would increase the average residential customer bill by $2.41 or 2.6 percent (UG-260438).

White House

WHITE HOUSE

Ratepayer Protection Pledge

The White House released a statement that it has expanded its Ratepayer Protection Pledge by bringing more than 200 additional utilities, data center developers, cooperatives, and states into a commitment that “large data center operators— not ratepayers—fund the electricity generation and infrastructure their projects require.” The White House stated that the Ratepayer Protection Pledge now covers 80% of all power delivered to U.S. homes and businesses.

Federal Agencies

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (FERC)

July 2026 Commission Meeting

FERC held its July 2026 Commission Meeting on July 16, 2026.  FERC issued the following orders and actions:

• FERC ordered the California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) and Southwest Power Pool, Inc. to detail their progress in coordinating operations along their seams.  The joint report must address current coordination initiatives, identify specific operational challenges arising from new market developments, outline plans and schedules for resolving issues, and identify areas where the operators have yet to align.  Public comments on seams management and market coordination issues will be accepted for 30 days post-filing;
• FERC directed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to develop new or modified Reliability Standards addressing the reliability risks associated with the integration of computational loads into the bulk-power system. FERC also directed NERC to revise its rules of procedure, including registry criteria for computational load entities.  NERC’s updated Reliability Standards and rules of procedure are due by December 31, 2026; and
• FERC approved measures to “simplify” its National Environmental Policy Act review procedures for hydropower-related actions with minimal environmental impact. In the first of two orders, FERC expanded an existing Categorical Exclusion to cover terminations or revocations of hydropower licenses and exemptions that involve minor or no ground-disturbing activities and minor or no alterations to reservoir conditions and downstream flows.  In a second order, FERC adopted two of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s existing Categorical Exclusions, which apply to development of recreation sites near hydropower projects. 

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

CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR (CAISO)

Stakeholder Initiatives: Upcoming Meetings and Deadlines

2026 FERC Billing Rate Adjustment and 2025 FERC Fees Supplemental Billing

The CAISO will adjust the 2026 FERC billing rate from $0.117240 to $0.09966.  The new rate will be reflected in the beginning of the trade date October 1 T+9B initial assessment.

2026 CAISO Stakeholder Symposium

The 2026 CAISO Stakeholder Symposium will take place on October 6, 2026 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California.  Registration is now open, and details can be found here.  The Welcome Reception is scheduled for October 5, 2025.  The agenda for the Symposium is now available here.

Information on Transmission Capability Estimate Inputs for the CPUC Integrated Resource Planning (IRP)

The CAISO has hosted the updated information on the transmission capability estimate inputs for the CPUC IRP and available deliverability information for Cluster 16 screens.  More information can be found at the Transmission Planning Process webpage.

New Resource Implementation Forum

The CAISO will host a hybrid New Resource Implementation Forum on October 7, 2026.  The forum is intended to promote collaboration with stakeholders and provide greater clarity on expectations for bringing new resources online.  Meeting registration details can be found here.

PJM INTERCONNECTION LLC (PJM)

PJM Board of Managers Directs Action on Resource Adequacy, Affordability, and Large Loads

The PJM Board of Managers (Board) directed PJM to file two proposals with FERC to strengthen reliability and manage affordability impacts of large loads.  The Board directed one filing to attract more generation to the grid with a reliability backstop procurement working with facilitating private bilateral contracts.  The Board directed a second filing on an operational tool to balance large load growth with system reliability during capacity shortages.

NEW ENGLAND (ISO-NE) 

Large Load Informational Filing

ISO-NE filed potential resource adequacy plans in an informational report to FERC as part of its large load show cause proceeding.  The report highlights several ongoing initiatives, including capacity market reforms, revisions to Pay-for-Performance incentives, improvements to surplus interconnection service, probabilistic forecasting, and uncertainty reserves.

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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.