Data Access - California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Barrier 10: Data Access

Barrier Statement

California lacks consistent access to data about consumption, energy supply infrastructure, and other information that can inform CAPs, capital projects, and cost affordability impact analyses.

Filterable Database

How communities are experiencing this barrier

View the details on what communities have shared with SLECC from across the state.

Key challenge discussed in - San Francisco Bay Area, Inland Deserts, Statewide

Local governments and developers lack consistent, timely, and usable GHG and energy data due to utility-controlled access, strict privacy rules, inconsistent formatting, and fragmented data policies. Without standardized systems or a statewide platform, jurisdictions struggle to obtain the customer-level information needed to plan for electrification, distributed energy resources, resilience infrastructure, and accurate GHG inventories.

Key challenge discussed in - San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Statewide

Local governments—especially smaller jurisdictions—lack the technical expertise to analyze and convert raw utility or VMT data into usable GHG inventories, forcing reliance on costly consultants, delaying progress, and preventing in-house staff from building long-term institutional capacity.

Key challenge discussed in - San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Statewide

Fragmented, Utility-Controlled, and Procedurally Burdensome Data Systems. Local governments must navigate fragmented and non-aligned datasets across state agencies, utilities, MPOs, and regional entities, with no single authoritative access point. This fragmentation—compounded by legalistic, slow utility data-request processes—forces duplicative reconciliation work, increases staff burden, delays access, and makes it difficult to track progress or align planning and policy across agencies.

Key challenge discussed in - Inland Deserts, Statewide

Limited Access to Infrastructure and Distribution-System Data. Jurisdictions lack reliable access to data on grid capacity, distribution constraints, gas system conditions, and real-time system performance, constraining long-term electrification, microgrid planning, and resilience investments.

Key challenge discussed in - San Diego, Statewide

Public mistrust: Lack of transparency in transportation and utility data reporting (e.g., toll revenues, modeling) undermines confidence in CAP monitoring

Local Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by local leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

Local Solution

Leverage Regional Data Intermediaries and Shared Data-Sharing Frameworks. Local governments can work through regional entities—such as MPOs, air districts, and CCAs—to aggregate, interpret, and standardize energy and climate data. Regional data-sharing frameworks reduce duplicative local effort and improve access to planning-ready information.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Statewide

Local Solution

Using available aggregate or regional data to inform planning despite gaps. Participants described relying on the best available aggregate or regional datasets when more granular information is unavailable, particularly for transportation and energy planning. While imperfect, these datasets support policy development and long-range planning.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Statewide

Local Solution

Educate communities about the benefits and safeguards of data sharing to build trust and encourage voluntary participation.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Inland Deserts

State Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by state leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

State Solution

Centralize and Standardize State Data Access for Local Planning. The state should centralize and release standardized, planning-ready climate, energy, utility infrastructure, and transportation datasets for local governments, potentially through a shared data portal. Improving accessibility and consistency would reduce navigation burdens and support effective CAP development and implementation.

Existing Examples of Progress:

CEC’s expanded authority on local energy data and planning is a positive step toward enabling data-sharing and cross-agency coordination on local distribution challenges

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): San Francisco Bay Area, Inland Deserts, San Diego, Statewide

State Solution

Align and Harmonize Data Requirements Across State Agencies. The state should align data-related requirements and expectations across agencies such as CARB, CEC, and CPUC to reduce fragmented requests, duplication, and delays for local governments updating CAPs. Treating alignment as a governance issue—rather than a technical one—would streamline compliance and improve consistency across planning processes.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): San Diego, Statewide

State Solution

Capacity support for small jurisdictions – Offer technical assistance and training so under-resourced jurisdictions can access and use state and utility data effectively

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): San Diego, Statewide

Solution Spotlight

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