October 7, 2026

Regulatory Update for October 7, 2026

(Covering September 30, 2026 – October 6, 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

Federal Regulatory Agencies

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

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State Regulatory Agencies

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

Proposed Decisions and Resolutions

None to report.

Voting Meeting

The CPUC will hold a voting meeting on October 8, 2026 in Sacramento, California, at 11:00 a.m. PT. The energy-related agenda items are below:

Item 2. Resolution E-5455

This resolution approves 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 (MW) transmission-level retail electric load at 230 kilovolts in San Jose, California. The resolution approves the AL with modifications, requiring additional ratepayer protections.

Item 4. Rulemaking (R.) 15-05-006 (Order Instituting Rulemaking to Develop and Adopt Fire-Threat Maps and Fire-Safety Regulations)

This decision partially grants a petition for modification of D.17-12-024, filed by SCE for modifications to the boundaries of the High Fire-Threat District in its service territory. SCE’s proposed addition of 47 areas to the High Fire-Threat District is approved while removal of 61 areas from the High Fire-Threat District is denied. The Commission’s Safety Policy Division is directed to hold a workshop in 2027 on future proposed modifications to the Commission’s High Fire-Threat District Map. Some incremental costs may result from implementation of the Commission’s fire-safety regulations; cost recovery for any such costs is consistent with D.17-12-024.

Item 6. Resolution G-3622

This resolution approves in part and modifies in part the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) ALs 12-G and 10-G-A, filed on August 8, 2025 and October 3, 2025, respectively. These ALs contain proposed Gas Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) Investment Plans (Gas RD&D Plans or Plans) for Fiscal Years 2024–2025 (the 2024 Plan) and 2025–2026 (the 2025 Plan). This resolution approves, in part, the CEC’s Gas RD&D Plans with proposed budgets of $24 million each for its 2024 Plan and its 2025 Plan, totaling $48 million. This resolution reviews the CEC’s 2024 Plan and 2025 Plan against a list of consolidated requirements from prior decisions and resolutions. This resolution finds that CEC Plan omissions can be remedied with additional information and directs the CEC to submit its revised 2024 and 2025 Gas RD&D Plans via Tier 2 ALs within 90 days. Held to October 29.

Item 7. Rulemaking (R.) 24-10-005 (Order Instituting Rulemaking to Consider Proposed Changes to General Order 95 to Modernize the Rules and Regulations Governing the Design and Construction of Overhead Electric and Communications Facilities in California)

General Order (GO) 95 provides rules governing the design, construction, and maintenance of overhead lines for electric and communications facilities in California. This decision (a) modifies GO 95 to adopt a new methodology based on Load and Resistance Factor Design in place of Working Stress Design, (b) revises GO 95 language accordingly, and (c) requires utilities to participate in a workshop and write a subsequent workshop report.

Item 8. Application (A.) 24-01-020, et al. (In the Matter of the Application of SFPP, L.P. for Authority to Increase Rates for Transportation of Refined Petroleum Products)

In its consolidated applications, SFPP, L.P. (SFPP) seeks to increase its existing rates and charges for intrastate transportation of refined petroleum products for the period covering 2021–2024. This decision finds that SFPP’s connected terminals are pipeline system jurisdictional assets per Public Utilities Code section 227. Because SFPP’s rate increase applications and evidence do not include the revenue and cost information associated with these jurisdictional terminal assets, this decision finds that SFPP’s applications do not comply with all applicable sections of the Public Utilities Code. Held to October 29.

Item 9. Application (A.) 25-05-009 (Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company for Authority, Among Other Things, to Increase Rates and Charges for Electric and Gas Service Effective on January 1, 2027)

This decision sets a January 1, 2027 effective date for PG&E’s General Rate Case (GRC) revenue requirement, even if the Commission adopts the final decision authorizing the 2027 GRC revenue requirement after that date. If the Commission adopts a decision authorizing the 2027 revenue requirement after January 1, 2027, PG&E is authorized to use the General Rate Case Gas Distribution Memorandum Account, the General Rate Case Electric Memorandum Account, and the General Rate Case Gas Transmission and Storage Memorandum Account to track and recover any over-collection or under-collection. 

Item 11. Application (A.) 25-04-014 (Application of San Diego Gas & Electric Company to Revise its 2024–2031 Energy Efficiency Rolling Portfolio Business Plan)

This decision rejects the application of SDG&E to modify its energy efficiency business plan and withdraw from administering regional energy efficiency programs, for both electric and natural gas customers, in its service area. The decision finds that the application is both premature and unsupported by the record. SDG&E is required to continue performing administrative duties to deliver its regional energy efficiency program portfolio, including its codes and standards programs. SDG&E is encouraged to modify or cancel underperforming programs and/or rebalance its regional portfolio budget in order to continue to improve the performance of its energy efficiency portfolio overall.

Item 13. Application (A.) 25-04-020 (Application of Southern California Gas Company to Recover Costs Recorded in the Transmission Integrity Management Program Balancing Account from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023)

This decision grants SoCalGas’s request for cost recovery in the amount of $81.3048 million as part of its Transmission Integrity Management Program Balancing Account. The Commission disallows $92.4952 million from the original requested amount. Held to October 29.

Item 14. Application (A.) 25-05-004 (Application of Southern California Gas Company for Incremental Funding for Customer Information System Replacement Program)

This decision denies SoCalGas’s request for incremental funding to implement its Customer Information System Replacement Program (CIS Replacement Program). The Commission finds that parties to this proceeding have provided evidence that the costs of SoCalGas’s CIS Replacement Program are not likely to exceed the authorized amount the utility has been approved to seek ratepayer recovery for, as provided by the Commission in D.24-12-074. 

Item 15. Resolution E-5483

This resolution approves PG&E’s AL 7860-E, the Diablo Canyon Extended Operations Balancing Account (DCEOBA) True-Up AL filed pursuant to Senate Bill 846 and D.23-12-036, and denies the protest filed by The Utility Reform Network (TURN). PG&E’s AL 7860-E trues-up PG&E’s recorded Diablo Canyon Power Plant extended operations costs and market revenues to the Commission-adopted forecast for the record period September 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025. This resolution finds that PG&E’s recorded DCEOBA costs, totaling approximately $1,224.1 million, are below 115 percent of the approximately $1,325.4 million forecast approved in D.24-12-033, so that no further reasonableness review of those costs is required under Public Utilities Code section 712.8(h)(1). This resolution also finds that TURN’s proposal to apply the 115 percent threshold separately to each individual cost category, rather than to PG&E’s total recorded costs, is not supported by the statute.

Item 18. Rulemaking (R.) 19-03-009 (Order Instituting Rulemaking to Implement Senate Bill 237 Related to Direct Access)

This decision denies Alliance for Retail Energy Markets, California Coalition of Large Energy Users, Direct Access Customer Coalition, Regents of the University of California, Shell Energy North America (U.S.), L.P., and Western Power Trading Forum’s petition for modification of D.21-06-033. According to the decision, the petition fails to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16.4(b) and 16.4(d) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure.

Item 20. Resolution E-5476

The Avoided Cost Calculator (ACC) is used in cost-effectiveness analysis of Distributed Energy Resource programs and policies. This resolution provides a link to the final 2026 ACC and related documentation and data files, consistent with policies adopted in D.16-06-007, D.19-05-019, D.22-05-002, D.24-07-015, D.24-08-007, and D.25-11-005. The documentation provides additional detail about this update, including a comparison of the 2026 and 2024 ACC outputs. This resolution describes the data and major modeling updates to the 2026 ACC.

Item 24. Resolution E-5469

This resolution approves PG&E’s contract amendment to the Bioenergy Renewable Auction Mechanism Program power purchase agreement (PPA) with Burney Forest Products to extend  the term of the PPA from October 31, 2027 to October 31, 2032.

Item 47.  Application (A.) 25-06-017 (Application of Liberty Utilities (CalPeco Electric) LLC for Authority to Recover Costs Related to the 2020 Mountain View Fire Recorded in the Wildfire Memorandum Account)

This decision authorizes Liberty to recover approximately $58.05 million in costs related to the 2020 Mountain View Fire recorded in Liberty’s Wildfire Expense Memorandum Account, plus up to an additional $3.375 million in additional financing costs related to the five-year recovery period, along with 75 percent of the five unresolved claims. Liberty shall use a Tier 2 AL process for approval of the Wildfire Expense Memorandum Account costs related to the unresolved Mountain View Fire claims paid after January 23, 2026. A five-year amortization period will be used by Liberty to recover the authorized Wildfire Expense Memorandum Account costs through a volumetric surcharge on customer bills. Held to October 29.

Item 48. Rulemaking (R.) 22-12-011 (Order Instituting Rulemaking to Address Biomethane Procurement Cost Allocation)

This decision finds that all investor-owned gas utility customers should pay a share of the above-market costs of the Renewable Gas Standard (RGS) program. However, the allocation of costs is not extended to non-core customers at this time, pending further assessment of whether an exemption (either in whole or in part) should apply to non-core customers. An additional process on this matter is needed to identify whether and how to implement cost allocation in a way that avoids emissions leakage and encourages industry to stay in California. This decision orders the joint gas utilities to lead a workshop process and subsequently file an application that considers recommendations coming out of the workshop as to whether and how these issues should be addressed.

Item 48A. Rulemaking (R.) 22-12-011 (Order Instituting Rulemaking to Address Biomethane Procurement Cost Allocation)

This Alternate Proposed Decision (APD) finds that all investor-owned gas utility customers should pay a share of the above-market costs of the RGS program and allocates costs to both core and non-core customers. The APD similarly directs the utilities to lead a workshop process and subsequently file an application.

Events

Interconnection Discussion Forum

Energy Division staff will host the next Interconnection Discussion Forum (IDF) on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT. The IDF provides an informal venue for utilities, developers, and other stakeholders to explore a variety of issues related to interconnection practices and policies. It is generally scheduled quarterly. The November IDF meeting will focus on interconnection issues relating to community solar, under both the Wholesale Distribution Access Tariff and Electric Rule 21. Additional details are available on the Rule 21 website, 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:

November 12, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Load Modifier Draft Results, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PT.

December 14, 2026: Commissioner Workshop on Overall Forecast Results, 10:00 a.m. –5:00 p.m. PT.

CEC Announces Release of $28 Million in EV Fast Charger Incentives

On October 7, 2026, the CEC announced, in partnership with the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP), that it is opening a new application window through January 14, 2027, for the release of $28 million in incentives for direct-current fast chargers, with awards of up to $100,000 per charging port. 

Eligible projects must be ready to build, including having an issued permit, and final utility service design.  Priority will be given to projects located in disadvantaged, low-income and tribal communities.  Additional information is available on the CALeVIP website, available here.

Interoperability Workshop

The CEC will host a remote-access workshop on November 4, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT to solicit stakeholder feedback on advancing energy interoperability standards in California. The workshop will focus on alignment among communication protocols and standards, including OpenADR 3.1, Matter, IEEE 2030.5, ISO 15118, Open Charge Point Interface, and Open Charge Point Protocol, to support scalable, privacy-preserving automation and consumer-authorized control. The CEC seeks input from stakeholders including original equipment manufacturers, utilities, aggregators, DER providers, consumer advocates, and other interested parties regarding interoperability for the Market Informed Demand Automation Server, Demand Side Grid Support, load flexibility, electric vehicle supply equipment, and customer energy management systems. Additional workshop information, including login details, is available here.

Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC)

The CEC hosted its annual EPIC Symposium on September 29, 2026. EPIC discussion topics included (1) Optimizing EVs as Grid Assets and (2) Closing the Battery Lifecycle Loop. The revised EPIC Symposium agenda is available here.

Opt-In Certification Program: Emergency Rulemaking

The CEC has changed the date for the public workshop regarding proposed emergency regulations for the Opt-In Certification Program that will be set forth in Title 20, California Code of Regulations, sections 1875-1882, and Appendix B.  The workshop will now be held via Zoom on November 2, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT.  According to the revised workshop notice, the proposed changes include, among other things:

  • incorporation of the statutory presumption of net economic benefits;
  • incorporation of new statutory requirements for applicants to provide evidence of property rights to the proposed location and consultation with the fire suppression authority;
  • clarification of the procedures for suspension and early termination of a project application, restructure local agency reimbursement, refine the community benefits agreement process, address post-certification change in project ownership or operational control, and update the Appendix B information requirements applicable to the Opt-In Certification Program.

The CEC also extended the deadline to provide written comments on the proposed emergency regulations.  Comments are now due to the Docket Unit by 5:00 p.m. PT on November 10, 2026.

Wave and Tidal Energy

The CEC released the Draft Senate Bill 605 Wave and Tidal Energy Report to the Governor and Legislature and will be holding a remote-access workshop on September 30, 2026 to present and gather feedback on the draft report. The meeting schedule for the workshop is available here. Written comments on the draft report are due to the Docket Unit by 5:00 p.m. PT on November 3, 2026.

CEC Business Meetings

The next CEC business meeting is scheduled for October 19, 2026.

Federal Agencies

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (FERC)

FERC Rejects 202(c) Cost Recovery Proposal

FERC rejected without prejudice an application for cost recovery under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act from TransAlta Centralia Generation LLC (TransAlta), which proposed  to recover its costs associated with complying with the Department of Energy’s emergency 202(c) orders. FERC noted that TransAlta’s proposal was not shown to be just and reasonable because it failed to allocate such costs based on the geographic scope of the emergency and may be unduly discriminatory or preferential. FERC elaborated that if TransAlta files another cost allocation and cost recovery proposal, it should identify the load serving entities (LSEs) within the geographic scope of the emergency described in the emergency orders and propose a mechanism that allocates the costs of keeping the plant in operation pursuant to those orders to such LSEs. 

FERC 2027 Commission Meeting Schedule

FERC announced the schedule for FERC’s open meetings for the 2027 calendar year. The open meeting dates for calendar year 2027 are as follows:

The meetings will take place at FERC’s headquarters at 888 First Street, N.E., in Washington, DC. The meetings are open to the public and are webcast at www.ferc.gov.

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

CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR (CAISO)

Stakeholder Initiatives: Upcoming Meetings and Deadlines

Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) Expanded to Include Portland General Electric (PGE)

PGE, Oregon’s largest electric utility serving nearly one million customers, has officially begun participation in the CAISO’s EDAM. The CAISO press release can be found here.

Large Loads Initiative

The CAISO posted the draft final proposal and draft tariff language for the Large Loads Initiative on September 24, 2026. The hybrid public stakeholder meeting to discuss the proposal took place October 1, 2026, and a virtual meeting will be held on October 19, 2026. However, registration for the in-person meeting is now closed. Online meeting details can be found here.

PJM INTERCONNECTION LLC (PJM)

FERC Accepts PJM Reliability Backstop Procurement (RBP) Proposal and Establishes Further Procedures

FERC issued an order on PJM’s proposed RBP, a one-time procurement process for new capacity to address resource adequacy challenges. FERC’s order accepted certain parts of PJM’s proposal but suspends it for five months, with an effective date of February 28, 2027, subject to refund and additional proceedings. FERC preliminarily found that PJM’s existing tariff may be unjust and unreasonable because the existing reliability backstop provisions appeared to be insufficient to prevent the resource adequacy concerns that led PJM to file the instant proposal in the first place. FERC directed PJM to submit an initial brief addressing cost allocation, Transmission Owner exit rules, and LSE collateral requirements. FERC noted that certain aspects of the proposal are just and reasonable, including limiting its RBP Resource eligibility to resources that have demonstrated a high likelihood of success in reaching commercial operation and its proposed $555/MW-day maximum willingness to pay and process for selecting RBP Resources in the RBP auction.

PJM stated it would not proceed with the RBP on September 30 as it had originally planned and that all timeline milestones previously communicated for the RBP will be reviewed and communicated to stakeholders at a later date.  PJM stated it will provide an administrative update on October 7.

SOUTHWEST POWER POOL (SPP)

CAISO and SPP Seams Report

CAISO and SPP submitted to FERC a joint report on western seams coordination, which identified six objectives to be completed before or shortly after the implementation of Markets+ in October 2027. Those objectives include:

  • Enhancing education and training on market protocols;
  • Enhancing data sharing;
  • Maintaining enhanced full network model alignment and a common mapping standard;
  • Implementing the Western Interconnection Loading Relief process and Enhanced Curtailment Calculator through the applicable North American Standards Board process;
  • Developing a framework for jointly impacted constraint management in conjunction with entities responsible for operation and transmission service; and
  • Planning for longer-term market-to-market enhancements in collaboration with stakeholders based upon operational experience.

CAISO’s and SPP’s report is subject to a 30-day comment period.

ISO NEW ENGLAND (ISO-NE)

Open Board of Directors Meeting

The ISO-NE Board of Directors noticed an open meeting, which will take place on November 10, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST at the Hilton Boston Back Bay, 40 Dalton St., Boston, MA 02115. A virtual attendance option is also available. Registration is available 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.

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