CPUC-CEC En Banc Discussing the CEC's 2021-2025 EPIC Investment Priorities (EPIC 4)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) will hold an en banc meeting from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Friday October 8, 2021, to share their perspectives and priorities on the proposed funding initiatives in the CEC’s Electric Program Investment Charge 2021-2025 (EPIC 4) investment plan. A quorum of Commissioners may participate, but no votes will be taken.

The en banc will be held remotely via Zoom consistent with Assembly Bill 361 (Rivas, Chapter 165, Statutes of 2021) to improve and enhance public access to state meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic and future emergencies by allowing broader access through teleconferencing options. Members of the public can attend the en banc by joining the meeting with the following information:

Link to Join the EPIC 4 Event:https://energy.zoom.us/j/97693726605?pwd=RG4vM2pSWGpDenluTnhRY1JMZm9VQT09

Event ID:976 9372 6605

Event Password:EPIC2021

Use the “raise hand feature” to indicate you want to speak, and the event facilitator will indicate when your line is unmuted for you to comment.

To Participate by Telephone, dial (213) 338-8477, or (888) 475-4499 (toll free). When prompted, enter the Event ID:976 9372 6605. To comment, dial *9 to “raise your hand” and *6 to mute/unmute your phone line.

Agenda:

1. Commissioner Introductory Remarks
2. Snapshot of EPIC's Past Decade
3. CEC EPIC 4 Overview Presentation
4. Commissioner Roundtable Discussion
5. Public Comment

Background:

In 2012, the CPUC established EPIC to fill a critical gap in funding for public investments in clean energy research and technology innovation that can provide benefits to electric ratepayers through greater reliability, lower costs, and increased safety. The CPUC selected the CEC and the state’s three largest investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to administer EPIC. On September 2, 2020, the CPUC renewed EPIC for an additional ten years (January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2030) in Decision 20-08-042 of Rulemaking 19-10-005. In Decision 20-08-042, the CPUC approved the CEC as an EPIC administrator with an annual budget of $148 million for the first five years and ordered the IOUs to collect funds for the renewed EPIC starting January 1, 2021.

The CPUC’s Decision 20-08-042 requires the CEC to file an investment plan to the CPUC by December 1, 2021, to cover the period of January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2025 (referred to as EPIC 4).

Public Comment:

Verbal comments will be accepted at the end of the event. Comments may be limited to three minutes or less per speaker and one person per organization. If participating via Zoom’s online platform, use the “raise hand” feature so the facilitator can announce your name and unmute you. If you are participating by telephone, press *9 to “raise your hand” and *6 to mute/unmute.

Written comments must be submitted to the CEC's Docket Unit by October 15, 2021. Instructions for providing written comments are found here.

If you have any questions or concerns about this en banc meeting, please feel free to contact CPUC analyst Jack Chang at: jack.chang@cpuc.ca.govor by phone at 415-703-2837.