Long-Term Status Change

General Order (GO) 167-C (adopted March 13, 2025) requires Generating Asset Owners (GAO) and Energy Storage System Owners (ESSO) to notify the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) and the Control Area Operator of any changes in long-term status of a unit. The GAO and ESSO must report the change in writing at least 90 days prior to the actual change taking place. The notification must include a description of the planned change.

If you are a GAO or ESSO and need to report a change, please send your notification and all required documents in PDF format to GO167@cpuc.ca.gov.  

Change in Long-Term Status of a Unit

Operation Standard 23: Notification of Changes in Long-Term Status of a Unit, states:
 
"The GAO or ESSO notifies the Commission and the Control Area Operator in writing at least 90 days prior to a change in the long-term status of a unit. The notification includes a description of the planned change."

Guidelines 

A.  Changes in long-term status include shutdown, cold layup, mothballing, retirement, decommissioning, and similar changes, other than planned and forced outages, that make a unit unavailable for dispatch. Outages requiring approval by the Control Area Operator are valid for the purposes of this standard only if they receive that approval. 

B.  Submission of an Operation Plan and/or Unit Plan does not constitute notice of a change in unit status.

C.  The GAO or ESSO shall follow Maintenance, Logbook, and Operation standards until the unit status changes, with no decline in the unit’s readiness for operation.
 

Operation Standard 26: Planning for Long-Term Unit Storage, states: 

"At least 90 days before a change in the long-term status of an electric generation or ESS unit, other than permanent shutdown and/or decommissioning, the GAO or ESSO shall submit to the Commission plans and procedures for storage, reliable restart, and operation of the unit."

Guidelines

A.  Changes in long-term status include shutdown, cold layup, mothballing, retirement, decommissioning, and similar changes, other than planned and forced outages, that make a unit unavailable for dispatch.  Outages requiring approval by the Control Area Operator are valid for the purposes of this standard only if they receive that approval.  

B.  Procedures are prepared and submitted for storing and restarting a unit both for 1) removal from service for 12 months or more and 2) removal from service for less than 12 months.
 
C.  Procedures are developed in compliance with Operation Standard (OS) 7.
 
D.  Either a dry or wet storage approach is acceptable.
 
E.  Procedures are carefully planned and documented in a step-by-step process for each system. The lay-up/mothballing procedures and checklists address the following systems, components, and issues" (see Operation Standard 26 for the complete list).