July 22, 2026

Regulatory Update for July 22, 2026

(Covering July 15, 2026 - July 21, 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, BPA)
• New York

Federal Regulatory Agencies

• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

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

• California Independent System Operator (CAISO)

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 CPUC held a voting meeting in San Francisco, California, on July 16, 2026, at 11 a.m. PT. The energy-related results 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 AL 7785-E, filed on December 18, 2025, requesting Commission approval of an exceptional case agreement between PG&E and Google LLC (Google) to support the energization of a new 250 megawatt (MW) 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 (SIMPBA). SoCalGas seeks recovery of an undercollection of $54.4 million as of December 2024, associated with incurred Storage Integrity Management Program (SIMP) expenditures during Test Year 2019 General Rate Case (GRC) 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 Kilovolt 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 (Atlas Solar). The power purchase agreement amendments extend the expected initial delivery date from December 1, 2027 to September 1, 2028. Approved.

Events

Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Workshop on Net Cost of New Entry (CONE)

Energy Division staff will host a workshop from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on July 23, 2026 to discuss IRP procurement compliance and solicit stakeholder feedback. Topics will include application of the Net CONE penalty mechanism for procurement non-compliance, the definition of good faith efforts and of resource online date criteria, capacity factor calculations, resource delays, and the issuance of citations. Additional details are available on the procurement service list, R.25-06-019.

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).

• 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 are due to Docket No. 26-IEPR-04 by 5 p.m. PT on 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 docketed today. 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 (DER) 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.

DER Workshop

The CEC held a workshop on July 15, 2026 to provide an update on activities conducted under the Order Instituting Informational Proceeding on DERs in California’s Energy Future. The workshop focused on the CEC’s use of advanced metering infrastructure data for DER planning, including demand flexibility, as well as the opportunities and challenges for front-of-the-meter DER in California.

Transportation Electrification

Implementation Workshop for EV Charger Data and Reliability Standards. The CEC will host a workshop from 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on July 22, 2026 to provide details on the technical implementation 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. The workshop will be held via Zoom, and access details are available here.

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 will hold a special closed session business meeting on July 28, 2026 at 11 a.m. The next regular CEC business meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2026. An agenda and supporting materials will be available here at least ten 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.

Board Meeting

CARB will hold a Board Meeting on July 23, 2026 at 1 p.m. A link to the agenda and Zoom access details is available here.

Next Stop to Zero Webinar

CARB will host a webinar on August 5, 2026 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 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.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST (OPUC, WUTC, BPA)

Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC)

On July 21, 2026, the OPUC held a regular public meeting and commissioner workshop to consider the rulemaking related to microgrid frameworks and HB 2065 and HB 2066 implementation, which require the Commission to (1) establish a regulatory framework for allowing the ownership, deployment, and use of microgrids and community microgrids within electric-company service territories, and (2) establish requirements related to third-party interconnection studies, utility technical data, preliminary design review, timelines, and collaboration for microgrid interconnection evaluations (Docket No. AR 681 – the staff memo is available here). Additionally, on July 23, 2026, the OPUC will hold an oral argument regarding Portland General Electric’s update to its corporate structure (Docket No. UM 2385). More information is available here.

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)

On July 21, 2026, BPA held a workshop to review its proposed Category B changes to its Operating Reserves business practice. The clean draft is here. The redline draft is here. BPA will accept comments on the business practice through August 18, 2026. BPA’s response is due September 16, 2026.

NEW YORK

New York Imposes AI Data Center Ban

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an Executive Order creating a state moratorium on new hyperscale data centers. The Executive Order pauses state environmental permits for up to one year and directs the creation of a fund that requires data centers to invest in grid infrastructure and energy.

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 orderedthe California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) and Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) 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 (NEPA) 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. 

PJM Governance and Stakeholder Reforms Technical Conference

FERC issued a second supplemental notice for its upcoming technical conference on July 23, 2026 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET, which will examine PJM’s governance and stakeholder processes, with a focus on identifying actionable reforms to improve PJM’s ability to address system needs efficiently and in a timely manner. The conference will be open to the public and will not address specific proceedings but rather focus on identifying reforms to improve PJM’s ability to address system needs in a timely and efficient manner. The technical conference will be in person at FERC and will be webcast. Advanced registration is not required. An agenda for the conference may be found here.

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

CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR (CAISO)

Stakeholder Initiatives: Upcoming Meetings and Deadlines

Information on Transmission Capability Estimate Inputs for the CPUC IRP

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

Transmission Development Forum Call

The CAISO, the CPUC, and participating transmission owners will hold the biannual stakeholder call on July 29, 2026 to provide status updates on transmission projects approved in the transmission planning process and network upgrades identified in the generation interconnection process. Meeting information can be found here.

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.  

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.

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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.