Pacific Gas and Electric will pay $98 million for past improper communications with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), but the years-old ex parte proceeding stemming from the controversy will continue to drag on because of new emails that came to light last fall.

California lawmakers moved forward with several pieces of energy legislation, but items such as a 100% RPS and CAISO regionalization seem to be on hold.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will vote later this month on a $98 million settlement agreement regarding its own ex parte communications with PG&E.

California’s three investor-owned utilities asked state officials to protect bundled customers from being saddled with expensive long-term renewable contracts.

A California Senate committee on Tuesday approved a bill that would allow publicly owned utilities that meet certain criteria to run their gas-fired plants at a minimal level to ensure that related bond debt is paid off and not passed to taxpayers.

Electric vehicles are increasing on California highways, but future growth is dependent on solving critical issues, PUC Commissioner Carla Peterman said.

Environmental groups cheered the announcement by NRG Energy that it will retire three natural gas-fired plants in Southern California.

CAISO officials on Wednesday urged California lawmakers to pass legislation that would convert the grid operator into an RTO.

CPUC President Michael Picker asked state lawmakers for guidance on the increasingly precarious financial health of the state's investor-owned utilities, which face growing risks stemming from wildfires.

California regulators and lawmakers are sounding the alarm over a possible decline in the financial and credit health of utilities stemming from wildfire risk and liability.