Energization

Energization Phase 1 Decision

In September 2024, the Commission adopted D.24.09.020 which established timelines for energization requests and a procedure for customers to report energization delays to the Commission. This decision addresses SB 410 (Becker, Chapter 394, Statues of 2023) and AB 50 (Wood, Chapter 317, Statutes of 2023), including, but not limited to, adopting criteria for timely service, setting biannual reporting requirements for IOUs, and convening a public workshop to discuss the large IOU submission of first biannual data collection.

For more details, see D.24-07-012 fact sheet.

Energization Delay Form

Customers can report Energization Delays to the Commission by submitting this interactive form or by emailing a completed and signed form to energizationcustomer@cpuc.ca.gov.  The form can be downloaded here.

The form enables customers to report utility delays to completing the customer’s electrical energization process to the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission).

Please complete and sign this form (E-signature and scanned signed copies of this form are the acceptable methods of submission). If you prefer, you may attach a PDF of this form in an email to energizationcustomer@cpuc.ca.gov. Alternatively, a physical copy of this completed and signed form may be mailed to California Public Utilities Commission; Energy Division, Distribution Planning Branch, 505 Van Ness Ave.; San Francisco, CA 94102.

As stated in D.24-09-020, customer should only submit their delay report after they seek to resolve their experienced energization delay(s) with their electric utility and/or their energization request exceeds the maximum targets adopted in the decision. The maximum energization targets are applicable only to the steps that are within the utilities’ direct control. Complaints submitted to the Commission will inform the Commission evaluation of the electric utilities’ efforts to meet the adopted targets and accelerate their energization processes. If the customer is seeking redress to an ongoing delay, they can also file a formal or informal complaint with the Commission’s Consumer Affairs Branch utilizing the instructions available at https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/consumer-support/file-a-complaint/utility-complaint/how-the-consumer-affairs-branch-can-help.

 

Order Instituting Rulemaking to Establish Energization Timelines

In January 2024, the Commission opened a rulemaking proceeding (R.24-01-018) to implement provisions of Assembly Bill (AB) 50 (Wood, 2023), and Senate Bill (SB) 410 (Becker, 2023)related to the Commission’s development of average and maximum target energization timelines, and a procedure for customers to report energization delays to the Commission.

The proceeding focuses on completing the following actions that the Commission must take by September 30, 2024:

  • Establish reasonable average and maximum target energization time periods (P.U. Code Section 934(a)(1))
  • Establish a procedure for customers to report energization delays to the Commission (P.U. Code Section 934(a)(2))

Additionally, the proceeding will address actions directed by AB 50 and SB 410 for the Commission to take that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Determining the criteria for timely service for electric customers to be energized (Section 933.5(a), and for upgraded electric customer service (Section 933.5(d).
  • Establishing annual reporting requirements on customer energization for the electrical corporations to be used to evaluate the electrical corporations’ fulfillment of timely electric service (Section 933.5(a)(2)(A)).
  • Annually convening a public workshop for the electrical corporations to discuss their reports with interested parties and experts in customer energization (Section 933.5(a)(3)).
  • Providing a forum for docketing of electrical corporation reports on energization and consideration of actions to take in light of those reports (Sections 933.5(b), 933.5(d), and 934(d)).

On February 2, 2024, Energy Division staff hosted a workshop to discuss issues pertaining to the development of reasonable average and maximum energization timing targets and the process for customers to report energization delays to the Commission. On February 6, 2024, ALJ Sisto and ALJ Van Dyken issued a ruling incorporating the questions presented in the February 2 workshop and the recording of the workshop into the proceeding record.

A link to the February 6 ruling, with instruction on how to access the workshop recording can be found here.

A link to the PowerPoint presentations can be found here.

On September 12, 2024, the CPUC approved a proposal to set new energization targets and timelines for the three large electric investor-owned utilities to complete steps in the energization process that they control. Read our fact sheet for more information.