January 15, 2026 CPUC VOTING MEETING RESULTS: SDG&E Wildfire Costs; POLR Framework; Data Center Transmission Upgrades
At its January 15, 2026 voting meeting, the CPUC adopted:
- An SDG&E General Rate Case decision that disallows $206.1 million in O&M costs and $242.5 million in capital expenditures, while approving $77.9 million in O&M and $945.5 million in capital as reasonable and necessary wildfire mitigation investments;
- A procedural framework for how non–investor-owned utilities may seek designation as a Provider of Last Resort under Senate Bill 520;
- An SCE ERRA Compliance decision authorizing recovery of $51.442 million in undercollected balances across five accounts, mainly driven by Emergency Load Reduction Program costs;
- PG&E’s request to facilitate transmission upgrades needed to energize a new 90-MW Microsoft data center in San Jose;
- Two Mid-Term Reliability actions affecting PG&E’s energy storage portfolio;
- A resolution that rejects $16.4 million in requested funding and disallowing $7.2 million in cost recovery for PG&E natural gas RD&D expenses incurred in 2023–2024; and
- A resolution approving requests of PG&E and SDG&E to establish PURPA-compliant export tariffs for customer-generation facilities that lose access to Net Energy Metering or Net Billing Tariff due to prevailing wage violations under the Public Utilities Code.
Additionally, the CPUC withdrew a proposed decision that denied a petition for modification filed by the Bioenergy Association of California to modify a 2020 CPUC decision (D.20-08-043), which had extended the Bioenergy Market Adjusting Tariff program through December 31, 2025.
And the Commission delayed action once again on a proposed decision that denies a request of California Resources Production Corporation for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to operate the 35-mile Union Island natural gas pipeline as a public utility gas corporation. This item is now scheduled for consideration on February 5.
Full meeting results are provided below.