State Solution 4.1.3 – Accelerate and standardize interconnection timelines and requirements. - California Climate and Energy Collaborative

2 months ago

Priority Area: Clean Energy and Building Decarbonization

Barrier: Interconnection and Energization

Challenge/Local/State

Description

State Solution

(Type of Activity: Policy/Regulation )

Accelerate and standardize interconnection timelines and requirements. Strengthen or refine existing interconnection mandates to ensure predictable timelines, transparent queue management, and consistent cost estimates across utilities.

Existing Examples of Progress: CPUC created a standard in 2020 that requires utilities to meet the established interconnection and system approval timelines for at least 95% of pending projects. It also approved Decision 24-09-020 for Phase 1 of the Energization Rulemaking, emphasizing biannual energization data reports, utility collaboration with county governments on distribution planning, and tracking customer engagement. IOUs are reporting improvements in consistent performance, with PG&E reforming its project customer process, In 2025, CalSSA formally requested CPUC to find utilities for noncompliance with state-mandated interconnection application timelines. In November 2025, 18 California legislators submitted a joint letter regarding delays.

Further Progress Pathways: 1. CPUC proceeding R.25-08-004 (opened August 2025), a new rulemaking to modernize Rule 21 interconnection procedures for distributed energy resources (DERs)., including a focus on improving IOU timeline compliance, refining dispute resolution (including the suspended Expedited Interconnection Dispute Resolution process), and ensuring proper use of Integration Capacity Analysis tools. 2. CPUC proceeding R. 24-01-018 (Phase 2), a second proceeding phase may emerge in 2026 following Decision 24-09-020 in Phase 1 of R. 24-01-018, which established timelines and reporting requirements associated with customer requests to receive grid services and energization.

Region: San Francisco Bay Area, Statewide

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California Climate & Energy Collaborative

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