MONDAY AGGREGATE: CPUC Hands Gas Customers a Price Argument in Aliso Canyon Proceeding

Good morning.

The CPUC has placed gas-price impacts at the center of the A.26-01-009 Aliso Canyon proceeding while foreclosing SoCalGas’ preferred outcome.

• Commissioner Karen Douglas ruled that any increase above the facility’s current 68.6 Bcf inventory limit is out of scope, but she also noted that reducing storage capacity would likely cause forward prices to rise.
• Parties challenging a 10 Bcf reduction now have a commissioner-supplied premise on price impacts as the proceeding also considers revisions to the framework governing future Aliso Canyon assessments.

Meanwhile, a new proposed decision would allow PG&E to withdraw its $93.5 million Hinkley compressor CPCN application while carrying a detailed evidentiary checklist into its next cost-recovery case, including whether the station needs its current compression capacity under the 1-in-10 peak-day standard.

Commissioner Darcie Houck also opened the comment period for a proposal requiring utilities to document how community engagement shapes climate-adaptation findings/spending.