WEDNESDAY AGGREGATE: IOU Research Spending and a Changing Crude Pipeline Market

Today's aggregate covers more than $1 billion in proposed EPIC research spending and SoCalGas’ updated safety and risk-mitigation spending, alongside two significant crude-pipeline matters.

Crimson California Pipeline is seeking a 10% rate increase as crude volumes decline, while California Resources Corporation is challenging Pacific Pipeline over curtailments that it says have cut Line 63 shipments by approximately half.

The timing is notable. CRC, California’s largest oil producer, has completed its acquisition of Crimson Pipeline, giving it a larger role in the infrastructure that moves California-produced crude to market.

WEDNESDAY LINKS

• California Declines to Fund its Biggest Virtual Power Plant: "State budget language finalized last week does not authorize additional money for the Demand Side Grid Support program, one of the biggest VPPs in the country. Friday was the last day for bills to be published before being voted on by the Aug. 31 deadline for this year’s legislative session. But that budget language also excluded a plan from [Gavin] Newsom, a Democrat, to shift control of the program from the California Energy Commission to the California Public Utilities Commission, which DSGS supporters feared could lead to it being dismantled entirely." CANARY MEDIA
• California's Draft Building Performance Standard Covers Buildings Above 50,000 Square Feet, While its New Remote-Inspection Right Stops Short of Commercial: "Wood Mackenzie recorded 97.7 MW of US commercial and industrial storage installed in the first quarter of 2026, roughly 75 MW of it in California. Whatever rule the state writes for large buildings applies to the majority of the segment by volume." ENERGY STORAGE WIRE
• California Resources Corporation Completes Acquisition of Crimson: "The transaction was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission on August 13, 2026." YAHOO FINANCE
• California VPP Bills Await Governor Newsom Signature, Octopus Energy Closes Investment in DERs Flex Platform Uplight: "Senate Bill 905 (SB 905) and SB 913, both authored by State Senator Josh Becker, cleared their final legislative hurdles and are expected to receive gubernatorial approval despite Newsom vetoing three VPP-related measures last year...Nick Chaset, CEO of Octopus Energy US, will also hold the role of CEO as Uplight. The two companies will introduce two of Octopus Energy’s products into Uplight’s solution suite." ENERGY STORAGE NEWS
• Is Covering California's Aqueducts and Canals with Solar Panels Economical? "A lot of the economic analysis that investors have to evaluate involves subsidies and tax incentives. But ultimately, the economic cost doesn’t change. It’s either fully supported by the investors or it is socialized. One way or another, we all pay." CALIFORNIA POLICY CENTER
• Legislature Passes Plug-in Solar Bill: "The California Legislature passed SB 868, which would allow customers to use small plug-in solar devices without obtaining utility approval, signing an interconnection agreement, or paying interconnection fees." CALIFORNIA ENERGY JOURNAL
• Wildfire Costs Loom Over California Legislative Session That Passed Solar, Data Center Bills: "California lawmakers passed a number of notable energy bills during the legislative session that ended Monday, including proposals to legalize balcony solar and remote inspections for some home energy projects. But they rejected an attempt by Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, to limit utilities’ wildfire liability, and are expected to pass a bill allowing insurers to pursue utilities for wildfire losses in a special session Tuesday." UTILITY DIVE