Working for California | May 2023 | |
CPUC Drives Transformative Changes Through Land Conservation and Social Equity Programs | |
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In efforts to positively impact land conservation throughout California, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is proud to share how it has achieved a legacy of long-term land preservation efforts through the establishment of the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council (Stewardship Council), a non-profit foundation.
The Stewardship Council was formed in 2004 as part of a Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Settlement Agreement with the CPUC. The Agreement required PG&E to not only establish the Stewardship Council, but also allocate $70 million for land planning and enhancements and $30 million for youth programs.
The CPUC’s goal in working with PG&E through the Stewardship Council was to create an organization that would work collaboratively with the people of California to provide a legacy of land conservation and youth enrichment programs for current and future generations… MORE
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Changes to Your Phone Bill:
California’s Public Purpose Program Surcharge
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You may have noticed changes to your phone bill. Beginning April 1, 2023, California changed how it collects funds for the state’s critical programs that make telephone and internet services affordable and available for low-income, deaf, disabled, rural and underserved customers, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations. While the state previously collected six separate, variable-rate surcharges, the California Public Purpose Program Surcharge is a simple flat-rate surcharge that will ensure the fair and equitable funding of these vital programs well into the future.
The CPUC opened a new proceeding (called a Rulemaking) in March 2021 to address growing inequities on consumer bills and funding shortfalls for the state’s Public Purpose Programs. The previous surcharge method relied on the highly variable “intrastate revenue” portion of customer bills. This resulted in widely different and inequitable surcharge rates for consumers,
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Example of phone bill
depending on their phone provider and type of service. During the proceeding, the CPUC discovered an inequitable surcharge burden on consumers, with some customers paying as little as $0.21 and some as much as $2.89. In addition, this resulted in inconsistent and declining revenue for funding the state’s Public Purpose Programs. To ensure adequate program funding, the CPUC had to continuously increase surcharge rates in order to maintain consistent funding levels. MORE
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Microgrid Incentive Program Helps Increase Community Resilience | |
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In ongoing efforts to build community resilience against power outages and in the face of climate change, the CPUC has approved rules for the new Microgrid Incentive Program for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).
The Microgrid Incentive Program is a $200 million program previously authorized by the CPUC to support the development of community microgrids in disadvantaged and vulnerable communities, as well as tribal communities, who have experienced and are likely to experience power outages. It allocates $79.2 million for PG&E, $83.3 million for SCE, and $17.5 million for SDG&E to build complex projects that can operate independently for extended periods and serve multiple customers in disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. Projects selected under the Microgrid Incentive Program can receive up to $15 million in award funding. The program advances microgrid resiliency technology, distributes the benefits of microgrids equitably across these vulnerable communities, and provides insights for future actions that can enhance the resilience of the power system to benefit all customers. MORE
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CPUC Reduces Incentives for Natural Gas to Better Align With State’s Climate Goals | |
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The CPUC has reduced incentives for natural gas energy efficiency measures in residential and commercial new construction to align more closely with the state’s greenhouse gas reduction, climate change mitigation, and decarbonization goals.
The CPUC’s April decision establishes a forward-looking framework under which ratepayer-funded natural gas energy efficiency incentives will no longer be available. The framework includes various factors, such as cost-effectiveness, availability of electric alternatives, program types, and exemptions for equipment that support state decarbonization goals. MORE
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Be YOU at the CPUC: Join Our Team!
If you are looking for a rewarding career, consider joining our team at the CPUC! We typically have opportunities at all levels available: leadership, supervisory, engineers, lawyers, Administrative Law Judges, analysts, specialists, administration, and more. You will join a team of individuals tackling issues related to the regulation of essential services in California. For more information on job opportunities and the CPUC’s hiring process, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/careers or email [email protected].
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THE DOCKET:
Proceedings Filed at the CPUC
March – April 2023
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Proceeding Number | Filed Date | Filer | |
Proceeding Number | Filed Date | Filer | |
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A1904014 et al. | 3/1/2023 | ALJ/STEVENS/CPUC
Proposed Decision granting compensation to Thomas R. Del Monte for Substantial Contribution to Decision 19-12-056.
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A2201014 | 3/3/2023 | ALJ/KELLY/ CPUC
Proposed Decision addressing the Application of Avalon Freight Services to modify rates for scheduled vessel common carrier freight service. MORE
A2202005 et al. | 3/3/2023 | ALJ/KAO/CPUC
Proposed Decision addressing Codes and Standards subprograms and budgets and staff proposal on reducing ratepayer-funded incentives for gas energy efficiency measures. MORE
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R1311005 | 3/3/2023 | ALJ/KAO/FITCH/CPUC
Proposed Decision granting Southern California Regional Energy Network’s motion to authorize use of unspent energy efficiency funding for California Energy Efficiency Coordinating Committee compensation pilot. MORE
R2110002 | 3/3/2023 | ALJ/CHIV/O’ROURKE/CPUC
Proposed Decision on Phase 2 of the Resource Adequacy Reform Track.
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R2207005 | 3/1/2023 | ALJ/WANG/CPUC
Proposed Decision authorizing funding for Track A of Phase 1 Consultant Services. MORE
VIEW MORE FILINGS
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About this Publication
This monthly newsletter is to keep you informed of proposals by the CPUC's Commissioners and Administrative Law Judges, as well as utility applications, and other issues and work of note. We also include a list summarizing the filings at the CPUC in the previous month.
We want to hear from you! If you have topics you'd like us to cover or if you'd like to make comment on our proceedings or work, please contact us at [email protected] or call (855) 421-0400. You can find information about events we are having at www.cpuc.ca.gov/Events.
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