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The CPUC's Emerging Issues Forum provides an opportunity for CPUC staff and industry experts to share ideas on topics outside of the CPUC's formal regulatory or rulemaking processes in the industries the Commission regulates: communications, energy, transportation, and water. The goal of the Forum is to provide proactive leadership on emerging policy issues of broad importance to the Commission, Industry and the public, and support sound, long-term policy development through independent research and analysis.
We invite members of the public to provide feedback. For general comments and questions, or to suggest issues for consideration, send an email to emergingissues@cpuc.ca.gov. For comments on specific papers and issues presented by the Emerging Issues Forum, contact us through the comment form provided under each issue topic.
You can also join our electronic mailing list to get updates on new postings in the Emerging Issues Forum.
Low Income Rates for Water Utility Customers
August 26, 2013” This paper provides an initial and preliminary calculation of what the costs of Class-A water utilities’ low income programs could be if ALL income-eligible households were to receive the low income benefits. The benefits of the low income programs, that is, the dollar amounts removed from the bills of qualifying low income customers, vary substantially among the utilities and the utility regions studied. They vary from a low of $5 per billing period to $19 in this study. The median benefit was found to be 17.5-percent of a typical bill. The cost of supporting the low income programs for the Class-A water utilities under the assumption of full participation of all qualifying households also varies substantially from service area to service area. They range from about 1.4-percent of a typical residential bill to more than 13-percent of a typical bill. The median percentage was found to be 6.9-percent.
Utility Investment Valuation Strategies: A Case for Adopting Real Options Valuation
Oct. 3, 2013: This paper takes a deeper look into how utilities make investment decisions, and recommends that utilities and regulators should consider new types of investment valuation strategies for maintenance and upgrade projects in electric and water utilities. The paper argues that the conventional way of valuing Maintain Repair and Upgrade investments implicitly undervalues them by not recognizing the value of new information and the value of managerial flexibility to react to that information.
Customers as Grid Participants: A Fundamentally New Role for Customers
May 15, 2013: This paper highlights customer segmentation as a tool to better understand customer needs. The paper’s overall intent is to discuss a paradigm shift from the historical view of utility consumers as merely ratepayers and passive recipients of electricity services to active participants in the power grid. Customer participation, more than the actions of the utilities or of the regulators, is critical to meet California’s greenhouse gas emission goals in a cost-effective manner. It represents a fundamental change in the relationship between the utility and the customer, increasing the onus on both to become partners.
Current Issues with Long-Term Resource Adequacy
Feb. 20, 2013: CPUC Staff Briefing Paper – A Review of Current Issues with Long-Term Resource Adequacy
Water Energy Nexus
This paper clarifies and further defines the energy water nexus and identifies the key issue for improving the overall efficiency of the nexus, both technical and economic efficiency. The paper recommends the challenge is more closely defined as managing the water-energy portfolio – balancing the technical constraints with the economic value of water and energy services. A portfolio management approach does not strictly rank potential opportunities, but rather balances the risks and opportunities of water and energy systems in order to achieve a broad set of objectives: such as preserving and extending the water supply, leveraging energy services to mitigate water scarcity, and reduce overall emissions.
Presentation on the Water Energy Nexus paper
Energy Data Center Briefing Paper
This Briefing Paper recommends that the CPUC open a proceeding to consider the creation of an Energy Data Center and the benefits it can offer, while staying within the confines of existing privacy statutes and CPUC rules.
Cybersecurity and Regulation
The CPUC's Grid Planning and Reliability Policy Paper on Cybersecurity and the Evolving Role of State Regulation: How it Impacts the California Public Utilities Commission.
Utility Workforce Development – Should the CPUC Play a Role in this Issue?
As the utility workforce ages and workers are leaving at a faster pace than people entering the workforce, one important question remains unanswered: Are the four investor-owned utilities regulated by the CPUC prepared and equipped to handle the potential labor shortage? This paper discusses this issue.
Pre-Pay Programs for Electricity Service
This paper reviews pre-pay programs for electricity service.
Trends in Utility Infrastructure Financing
Similar to the rest of the country, California is nearing the end of useful life of its utility infrastructure, much of which has been built over the past century. This paper will discuss three financing options that can be used to potentially reduce the cost of upgrading utility infrastructure.
Electricity Use and Income: A Review
The study of relationship between residential electricity demand and income is important as it helps to better understand welfare implications of various policies. This paper examies these issues.
Rate Case Memo
This memo discusses whether the current General Rate Case plan meets the objectives of the CPUC.
USF Reform
The Federal Communications Commission will soon begin considering proposals to reform both the manner in which Universal Service Fund revenues are collected from customers, and the types of services eligible for subsidy. The purpose of this paper is to identify the impacts of different reform proposals on California customers. |