California Energy Regulatory Weekly Update - September 2020

Prepared by California Regulatory Happenings for the Week of August 31, 2020 Buchalter Regulatory Happenings Weekly Report: Page 1 of 11 www.buchalter.com BN 41536928v1 California Public Utilities Commission Issue Latest Developments CPUC Commissioner’s Meeting The next Commission meeting is scheduled for 06/25/20. Remote Access Only. Relevant results from the August 27, 2020 meeting included in this update. PROCUREMENT IRP Framework Long-Term Procurement Planning Requirements R.20-05-003 On May 7, 2020 the Commission opened a new IRP rulemaking addressing the next cycle of IRP. A prehearing conference was held on July 14, 2020. Parties are awaiting a Scoping Memo. IRP Framework Long-Term Procurement Planning Requirements R 16-02-007 On 5/14/20 the California Community Choice Association filed a Petition for Modification of D.19-11-016, recommending that the permanent hybrid QC counting methodology should replace the interim methodology in determining compliance with system RA procurement requirements, among other changes recommended to prevent cost shifts. On 8/24/2020 the Commission issued a Proposed Decision granting the PFM. On 7/21/20 the Commission issued a decision denying CESA’s petition for modification (filed 4/1/2020). Continued Implementation of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act and Related Matters (R.18-07-017) On 5/15/20 the ALJ issued a Decision adopting a new standard offer contract for qualifying facilities of 20 MW or less pursuant to the PURPA Act of 1978. Multiple parties submitted comments and reply comments. Utilities have filed their Tier 2 Advice Letters implementing the new standard offer contract, but various regulatory procedures have held up the disposition of these ALs. Decision on SB100 RPS Procurement Quantities R.18-07-003 On May 13, 2020, the ALJ issued a ruling modifying the schedule of review for 2020 RPS Procurement plans (original ruling identifying issues and schedule issued May 6, 2020). On 7/24/2020 the Commission issued a Proposed Decision revising the Bioenergy Prepared by California Regulatory Happenings for the Week of August 31, 2020 Buchalter Regulatory Happenings Weekly Report: Page 2 of 11 www.buchalter.com BN 41536928v1 Market Adjustment Tariff Program. – This Decision was unanimously approved at the August 27, 2020 Commission meeting. On 8/21/2020 the Commission issued a Proposed Decision resuming and modifying the Renewable Market Adjustment Tariff Program. INTERCONNECTION Streamlining Interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources and Improvements to Rule 21 (R.17-07-007) This rulemaking addresses streamlining interconnection of distributed energy resources and improvements to rule 21. On 5/7/20 an order extending the statutory deadline in the proceeding was issued, extending the deadline to May 17, 2021 in order to allow Working Group Four to compete its work. On 8/20/2020 the Commission issued a Proposed Decision adopting the recommendations from Working Groups Two and Three and the Subgroup. Successor to Existing Net Energy Metering Tariffs pursuant to PUC Section 2827.1 (R.14-07-002) Order Instituting Rulemaking to Revisit Net Energy Metering Tariffs Pursuant to Decision D.16-01-044, and to Address Other Issues Related to Net Energy Metering. On June 2, 2020, the CPUC issued a Proposed Decision implementing automatic enrollment of Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariff. Opening comments are due June 22, 2020. On 8/11/20 a Decision modifying D.16-01-044 was issued regarding virtual net energy metering eligibility requirements. On 8/13/20 a Decision adopting standardized inputs and assumptions for calculating estimated electric utility bill savings from residential PV solar energy systems was issued. At the Commission Voting Meeting on 8/27/2020 a new OIR was adopted to revisit issues in D.16-01-004. RESOURCE ADEQUACY Resource Adequacy, Consider Program Refinements and Establish Annual Local and Flexible On 5/18/20 a Proposed Decision was issued adopting the RA import requirements – opening comments are due June 7, 2020. The PD makes a number of conclusions related to pseudo-tied resources, and resource-specific and non-resource-specific imports and how they count towards meeting RA requirements. The Decision was adopted on 6/6/2020. Prepared by California Regulatory Happenings for the Week of August 31, 2020 Buchalter Regulatory Happenings Weekly Report: Page 3 of 11 www.buchalter.com BN 41536928v1 Procurement Obligations for the 2019 and 2020 Compliance Years. (R.17-09-020) Resource Adequacy Program, Consider Program Refinements, and Establish Forward...