By Hudson Sangree The California Public Utilities Commission authorized costs for a new safety program as part of a utility’s general rate case (GRC) for the first time Thursday, when it approved rate increases for San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas. The unanimous approval of the utilities’...

By Hudson Sangree The California Public Utilities Commission opened a formal examination into Pacific Gas and Electric’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan Thursday, as bondholders trying to take over the bankrupt utility upped the ante by offering wildfire victims $6 billion more than the utility has proposed. The commission voted unanimously...

By Hudson Sangree FOLSOM, Calif. — CAISO’s Board of Governors on Wednesday heard that the ISO could face capacity shortages as soon as next year if steps aren’t taken to address the potential shortfall, including keeping aging natural gas plants from retiring as planned. In a presentation to the board,...

By Robert Mullin A group of California stakeholders last week filed a plan with regulators that would replace the state’s current resource adequacy framework with a "central buyer" responsible for procuring resources for multiple years. Advocates for the plan filed a joint motion Friday seeking adoption by the California Public...

By Hudson Sangree Despite a rebuke from a federal appeals court, FERC last week reaffirmed its earlier decision that Pacific Gas and Electric participates voluntarily in CAISO and qualifies for hefty financial incentives to remain in the ISO (ER14-2529-005). The decision came after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals...

By Hudson Sangree California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his choice Friday for a new leader of the state’s Public Utilities Commission. Gov. Gavin Newsom named his new CPUC president during the signing ceremony for a landmark wildfire bill Friday. | © RTO Insider Marybel Batjer, currently the state’s government operations...

By Hudson Sangree The California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday asked for more information on Pacific Gas and Electric’s new corporate directors, with some commissioners expressing doubts about their safety expertise and ability to fully focus on their jobs. The latest effort — in which the CPUC adopted an administrative...

By Hudson Sangree Southern California Edison’s request for a huge transmission rate adjustment based on potential wildfire liability got a tepid reception from FERC on Tuesday (ER19-1553). The commission tentatively accepted the increase, per its customary procedure, but postponed any change for the maximum five months and set it for...

By Hudson Sangree CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Former Gov. Jerry Brown sent his energy aide Michael Picker from Sacramento to San Francisco five years ago, telling Picker he wanted him to serve on the California Public Utilities Commission to try to set things right at the beleaguered agency. "‘I need you...

By Hudson Sangree CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Commissioners from a dozen Western states gathered here to share their concerns and discuss the challenges of their jobs. At the top of the list was the role politics is playing in their decision-making. Two panels at the annual Western Conference of Public Service...