Natural Gas Leak Abatement

Methane Leak Proceeding (R.15-01-008) 

Gas Leak Abatement OIR (R.15-01-008) (Commissioner Rechtshaffen/ALJ Kersten) (Advisory): 

To carry out the intent of Senate Bill 1371 (Leno, 2014), the Commission initiated Rulemaking (R.) 15-01-008 to adopt rules and procedures for commission-regulated pipeline facilities to minimize natural gas leaks to reduce hazards and to advance greenhouse gas reduction goals. 

The Phase I Decision for the Gas Abatement OIR (D. 17-06-015), issued in June 2015, established:  

  1. Annual reporting for tracking methane emissions;
  2. 26 mandatory best practices for minimizing methane emissions pertaining to policies and procedures, recordkeeping, training, experienced trained personnel, leak detection, leak repair, and leak prevention;
  3. Biennial compliance plan incorporated into the utilities’ annual Gas Safety Plans, beginning in March 2018; and
  4. Cost recovery process to facilitate Commission review and approval of incremental expenditures to implement best practices and Pilot Programs and Research & Development.

By May 15, 2015, gas companies filed reports on leaks, leak management practices, and “best estimates” of gas losses. In March 2018, gas companies filed their first mandatory compliance plans to incorporate the 26 Best Practices for methane leak detection, quantification, and elimination, as ordered in D.17-06-015. 

In August 2019, the Commission’s Phase II Decision (D. 19-08-020) adopted a restriction on rate recovery beginning in 2025, for methane emissions greater than 20% below the 2015 baseline levels for PG&E and SoCalGas, to ensure that expenditures authorized to implement their Compliance Plans achieve their intended methane emissions reductions. CPUC continues to work with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to refine the annual report templates to meet changing informational needs and to revise emission factors to improve the utilities’ reporting of emissions. In 2021, the CPUC and CARB released the seventh annual Joint Staff Report - Analysis of the Gas Companies’ June 15, 2021, Natural Gas Leak and Emission Reports.

  

Recent Documents and Workshops

February 5, 2024:

Staff conducted the annual reporting and template workshop, gave an overview of the Joint Report, R & D Updates and compliance plan efforts.

  1. Workshop Agenda
  2. Workshop Presentation
  3. Workshop Recording

January 29, 2024

CPUC and CARB released the final Analysis of the Gas Companies’ June 15, 2023, Natural Gas Leaks and Emissions Reports (Joint Staff Report)

 

September 28, 2023:

Staff addressed concerns about rising rate pressure and how to best achieve the dual priorities of achieving maximum methane reductions and cost-effectiveness.

  1. Workshop Agenda
  2. Workshop Presentation
  3. Workshop Recording

March 30, 2023:

Staff issued the following reporting templates (appendices) and supplemental questionnaire, referred to in the March 31, 2023 Data Request Regarding 2023 Annual Reporting Requirements pursuant to R.15-01-008:

 

  1. Appendix 1 - Transmission Pipeline
  2. Appendix 2 - Transmission MR Stations
  3. Appendix 3 - Transmission Compressor Stations
  4. Appendix 4 - Distribution Mains & Services
  5. Appendix 5 - Distribution M&R Stations
  6. Appendix 6 - MSA Systems
  7. Appendix 7 - Storage Facilities
  8. Appendix 8 – Summary of Emissions 
  9. Appendix 9 - Emission Factors
  10. Supplemental Questionnaire

February 1, 2023:

Staff conducted the annual reporting and template issues workshop on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 from 9am-4pm. 

  1. Workshop Agenda
  2. Workshop Presentation
  3. Workshop Recording

January 5, 2023

CPUC and CARB released the final

Analysis of the Gas Companies’ June 15, 2022 Natural Gas Leaks and Emissions Reports (Joint Staff Report).

 

December 29, 2022

Per D.17-06-015, staff issued an evaluation of the Natural Gas Leak Abatement Program:

Staff Evaluation of the Natural Gas Leak Abatement Program

 

November 11, 2022

Staff issued final revised versions of its respective reviews of SDG&E’s and SoCalGas’s 2022 NGLA Compliance Plans:

  1. 2022 SDG&E Compliance Plan Review
  2. 2022 SoCalGas Compliance Plan Review

 

September 12, 2022

Staff issued a review of PG&E’s 2022 NGLA Compliance Plan:

2022 PG&E Compliance Plan Review

 

March 30, 2022:

Staff issued the following reporting templates (appendices), referred to in the March 31, 2022 Data Request Regarding 2022 Annual Reporting Requirements pursuant to R.15-01-008:

 

  1. Appendix 1 - Transmission Pipeline
  2. Appendix 2 - Transmission MR Stations
  3. Appendix 3 - Transmission Compressor Stations
  4. Appendix 4 - Distribution Mains & Services
  5. Appendix 5 - Distribution M&R Stations
  6. Appendix 6 - MSA Systems
  7. Appendix 7 - Storage Facilities
  8. Appendix 8 – Summary of Emissions 
  9. Appendix 9 - Emission Factors

February 1, 2022:

Staff conducted the annual reporting and template issues workshop.

  1. Workshop Agenda
  2. Workshop Presentation
  3. Workshop Recording

January 21, 2022: 

CPUC and CARB released the final Analysis of the Gas Companies’ June 15, 2021, Natural Gas Leak and Emission Reports (Joint Staff Report). 

  

March 30, 2021:

Staff issued the following reporting templates (appendices), referred to in the March 31, 2021 Data Request Regarding 2021 Annual Reporting Requirements pursuant to R.15-01-008:

 

  1. Appendix 1 - Transmission Pipeline
  2. Appendix 2 - Transmission MR Stations
  3. Appendix 3 - Transmission Compressor Stations
  4. Appendix 4 - Distribution Mains & Services
  5. Appendix 5 - Distribution M&R Stations
  6. Appendix 6 - MSA Systems
  7. Appendix 7 - Storage Facilities
  8. Appendix 8 – Summary of Emissions 
  9. Appendix 9 - Emission Factors

January 21st and 22nd, 2021:

Staff conducted its annual reporting and template issues workshop spanning two days.  The following slides were presented at the workshop:

Day 1 - January 21, 2021:

  1. SB1371 NGLA Reporting and Template Issues Workshop Agenda January 21 & 22, 2021
  2. Distribution M&R Station Study and EF's - PG&E 
  3. MSA Study and EF's – CARB
  4. MSA Studies, Calculation Proposal and EF's - PG&E
  5. MSA Studies, Calculation Proposal and EF's - Sempra  
  6. DM&S - Pipeline EF's: CARB
  7. DM&S - Pipeline EF's: Large Leak DT method; Risk-Based Leak Survey & Unknown Leaks - Sempra
  8. DM&S - Pipelines: Review Risk-based Predictive Model and Protocol - PG&E 
  9. DM&S - Pipeline Leaks: Valve Box Leak Detection Issues - PG&E
  10. Appendix 2 Trans M&R Stations - Proposed Changes - Sempra
  11. O&M Project Bundling - Bundling Reduction Factor - PG&E

Day 2 – January 22, 2021:

  1. Arial Methane Mapping Research - Sempra
  2. UAV Research on M&R Station Emissions - PG&E
  3. Stationary M&R Station Methane Detector Pilot Study Update - Sempra
  4. MSA - BP 22 Threaded Fitting Specification Research Update - Sempra
  5. Compressor Emission Measurement Frequency – Sempra 
  6. Compressor Emission Measurement Standards/Frequency - CPUC
  7. Exploratory Distribution M&R Station Baseline Proposal - PG&E (Note this presentation material is combined with Day-1 item #4 – MSA Studies, Calculation Proposal and EF's - PG&E)
  8. Exploratory MSA Baseline Impacts Study - PG&E 
  9. MSA Baseline Impacts Study - Sempra  
  10. Recap of Baseline Adjustment Status - CPUC

December 31, 2020:

Safety Policy Division: Risk Assessment and Safety Analytics released the final California Public Utilities Commission and California Air Resources Board Joint Staff Report - Analysis of the Utilities' June 15, 2020, Natural Gas Leak and Emission Reports - Senate Bill (SB) 1371 (Leno) Natural Gas: Leakage Abatement R.15-01-008/D.17-06-015/D.19-08-020. The Draft report review comments received on or before 12-11-20 were considered and various edits were made within the Final report that clarified content or fixed errors noted in the DRAFT - 2020 Natural Gas Leak Abatement Annual Joint Staff Report.

January 2, 2020:

RASA released the final California Public Utilities Commission and California Air Resources Board Joint Staff Report - Analysis of the Utilities' June 17, 2019 Methane Leak and Emissions Reports Required by Senate Bill (SB) 1371 (Leno) and Rulemaking (R.)15-01-008The Draft report review comments received on or before 12-16-19 were considered and various edits were made within the Final report that clarified content or fixed errors noted in the DRAFT - 2019 Natural Gas Leak Abatement Annual Joint Staff Report.

 

March 29, 2019:

Staff issued the following reporting templates (appendices), referred to in April 5, 2019 Data Request Regarding 2019 Annual Reporting Requirements pursuant to R.15-01-008 that directed responses by June 17, 2019:

  1.  04-05-19 Template Data Request
  2.  Appendix 1 - Transmission Pipeline R 3-29-19
  3.  Appendix 2 - Transmission MR Stations R 3-29-19
  4.  Appendix 3 - Transmission Compressor Stations R 3-29-19
  5.  Appendix 4 - Distribution Mains Services R 3-29-19
  6.  Appendix 5 - M&R Stations R 3-29-19
  7.  Appendix 6 - MSA Systems R 3-29-19
  8.  Appendix 7 - Storage Facilities R 3-29-19
  9.  Appendix 8 - Template Summary R 3-29-19
  10.  Appendix 9 - Emission Factors and Categorization Requirements R 3-29-19

 

January 17, 2019:

RASA held a workshop on the 2019 Natural Gas Leak Abatement reporting templates to discuss the following slide presentations:

  1. Workshop Agenda
  2. General Template Changes (CARB)
  3. Un-Surveyed Leak Calculation (SEU)
  4. Compressor Station Emission Factors (SEU)
  5. Super Emitter Emissions Calculation (PG&E)
  6. Unusual Large Leak Definition (SED)
  7. Status of Emission Factor Development (CARB)
  8. Wellhead Leak Emission Factors (PG&E)
  9. Wellhead Leak Emission Factors (SEU)
  10. Retroactive Baseline Adjustments (SED)
  11. Meter Set Emissions (PG&E)
  12. Distribution M&R Stations (PG&E)

 

December 21, 2018:

RASA released the final California Air Resources Board and California Public Utilities Commission Joint Staff Report-Analysis of the Utilities' June 15, 2018, Methane Leak and Emissions Reports Required by Senate Bill (SB) 1371 (Leno) and Rulemaking (R.)15-01-008.

 

 November 16, 2018 workshop:

  1. Workshop Agenda with RASA presentations
  2. Cost Effectiveness: CARB presentation
  3. Cost Effectiveness: EDF presentation
  4. Best Practice Harmonization: CARB presentation
  5. LUAF: SoCalGas/SDG&E presentation
  6. LUAF: PG&E presentation
  7. LUAF: SWG presentation
  8. LUAF: EDF presentation
  9. Leak Mapping: EDF presentation
  10. Leak Mapping: SoCalGas/SDG&E presentation
  11. Leak Mapping: PG&E presentation

 

November 15, 2018:

RASA released the Revised DRAFT California Air Resources Board and California Public Utilities Commission Joint Staff Report-Analysis of the Utilities' June 15, 2018, Methane Leak and Emissions Reports Required by Senate Bill (SB) 1371 (Leno) and Rulemaking (R.)15-01-008.

 

August 29, 2018:

2018 Leak Abatement Compliance Plan Evaluation Reports:

  1. Independent Storage and LDC Evaluation Report
  2. PG&E Evaluation Report
  3. SDG&E Evaluation Report
  4. SoCalGas Evaluation Report
  5. SWG Evaluation Report

 

April 19, 2018:

Compliance Plan Workshop

  1. Workshop Agenda and SED Presentation
  2. CARB Societal Cost of Methane Presentation
  3. SoCalGas Best Practices Presentation
  4. PG&E Best Practices Presentation
  5. SWG Emissions Mitigation Compliance Plan Presentation
  6. EDF and CUE SB1371 Presentation

 

    March 30, 2018:

    Staff issued a Data Request Regarding 2018 Annual Reporting Requirements and Directing Responses by June 15, 2018, R.15-01-008. The following appendices, referred to in the March 30, 2018 Data Request, are also being posted: 

    1. 3-31-18 Template Data Request 
    2. 3-31-18_summary of template changes v1
    3. Appendix 1 - Transmission Pipeline R 3-31-18
    4. Appendix 2 - Transmission MR Stations R 3-31-18
    5. Appendix 3 - Transmission Compressor Stations R 3-31-18
    6. Appendix 4 - Distribution Mains Services R 3-31-18
    7. Appendix 5 - M&R Stations R 3-31-18
    8. Appendix 6 - MSA Systems R 3-31-18
    9. Appendix 7 - Storage Facilities R 3-31-18
    10. Appendix 8 - Template Summary R 3-31-18 Workshop Agenda with SED presentations
    11. Appendix 9 - Emisssion Factors and Categorization Requirements R 3-31-18

     

    March 15, 2018:

    Decision D.17-06-016 required California gas utilities to file a proposed Leak Abatement Compliance Plan on March 15, 2018, detailing how they would put the 26 Best Practices for Leak Abatement to work for their operations and where possible provide cost and emissions reduction estimates. These plans are under review by the Risk Assessment and Safety Advisory staff in consultation with the California Air Resources Board:

     
     
    January 5, 2018:

    RASA released the final California Air Resources Board and California Public Utilities Commission Joint Staff Report-Analysis of the Utilities' June 16, 2017, Methane Leak and Emissions Reports Required by Senate Bill (SB) 1371 (Leno) and Rulemaking (R.)15-01-008; and Summary Background and Status of California Public Utilities Commission - Methane Leak Abatement Proceeding R.15-01-008 (SB 1371)

     

    September 15, 2017:  

    Best Practices Compliance Plan Template and Guidelines:     

    1.  Compliance Plan Best Practices Template          
    2.  Compliance Plan Guidance Document  

     

    August 1, 2017:  

    Presentations from the Workshop to develop the Best Practices Compliance Plan Template: August 1 Presentation 

       

      November 15, 2018:

      RASA released the DRAFT California Air Resources Board and California Public Utilities Commission Joint Staff Report-Analysis of the Utilities' June 15, 2018, Methane Leak and Emissions Reports Required by Senate Bill (SB) 1371 (Leno) and Rulemaking (R.)15-01-008.

       

      April 4, 2017:

      Administrative Law Judge’s Ruling Issuing Staff Data Request Regarding 2017 Annual Reporting Requirements and Directing Responses by June 16, 2017, R.15-01-008. The following appendices, referred to in the April 4, 2017 ruling, are also being posted:

      1. Appendix 1 - Transmission Pipelines R 3-31-17
      2. Appendix 2 - Transmission M and R Stations R 3-31-17
      3. Appendix 3 - Transmission Compressor Stations R 3-31-17
      4. Appendix 4 - Distribution Mains and Services R 5-16-17
      5. Appendix 5 - Distribution Mains and Services M and R Stations R 3-31-17
      6. Appendix 6 - MSA Systems R 5-16-17
      7. Appendix 7 - Storage Facilities R 3-31-17
      8. Appendix 8 - Template Summary R 3-31-17
      9. Appendix 9 - Emission Factors and Categorization Requirements R 3-31-17

       

      January 19, 2017:

       Administrative Law Judge’s Ruling Entering California Air Resources Board and California Public Utilities Commission Joint Staff Annual Report on Analysis of June 17, 2016 Utilities’ Reports and Commission Staff Proposal on Best Practices into the Record and Seeking Comments:

      1. Joint Staff Analysis of 2016 Methane Leaks and Emissions Reports from utilities June 17, 2016 report filings as required by R.15-01-008 per SB 1371.  
      2. Final Best Practices Revised Staff Recommendations with BP Matrix January2017

      November 3, 2016:

      Workshop to consider methodology for determining the cost-effectiveness of “Best Practices” to achieve methane emission reductions in the regulated natural gas system:

      1. SB 1371 Cost Effectiveness and Legislative Update Workshop Agenda Nov. 3, 2016
      2. 1371 CE workshop ARB Slides
      3. CUE - Best Practices cost considerations
      4. EDF Cost-effectiveness Presentation
      5. Joint IOUs Presentation
      6. TURN
      7. Final Presentation. 11-3 CPUC-CARB Workshop 

       

      April 12th, 2016, the CPUC/California Air Resources Board (CARB) held a workshop entitled Targets, Compliance and Enforcement, at the CARB offices in Sacramento. The CARB, CPUC, Environmental Defense Fund, Sempra Utilities, PG&E and the Independent Gas Storage Providers made the following presentations at the workshop. A workshop report will be provided later:

      1. California Air Resources Board (CARB)
      2. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
      3. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
      4. Sempra Utilities
      5. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
      6. The Independent Gas Storage Providers (ISPs)

       

      April 11, 2016: Administrative Law Judge’s Ruling Issuing Staff Data Request Regarding 2016 Annual Reporting Requirements and Directing Responses by June 17, 2016, R.15-01-008. The following appendices, referred to in the April 11, 2016 ruling, are also being posted:

      1. Appendix 1: Transmission Pipelines R4-4-16  
      2. Appendix 2: Transmission M&R Stations R4-4-16  
      3. Appendix 3: Transmission Compressor Stations R4-4-16  
      4. Appendix 4: Distribution Main Service Pipelines R4-4-16  
      5. Appendix 5: Distribution M&R Stations R4-4-16  
      6. Appendix 6: Customer Meters R4-4-16  
      7. Appendix 7: Underground Storage R5-19-16
      8. Appendix 8: Summary Tables R4-4-16  
      9. Appendix 9: Emission Factors R4-8-16

       

      March 24, 2016:

      Administrative Law Judge's Ruling Entering Summary of Best Practices Working Group Activities and Staff Recommendations into the Record and Seeking Comments, R.15-01-008

       

      The following documents are the results of Best Practices Working Group Meetings on December 8, 2015, December 22, 2015, January 5, 2016, January 19, 2016, and January 20, 2016:

      1. March 23, 2016: Natural Gas Leakage Abatement Summary of Best Practices Working Group Activities and Staff Recommendations 
      2. Attachment A – Best Practices Consolidated Spreadsheet

      Joint Air Resources Board/California Public Utilities Commission staff report on analysis of the utilities May 15, 2015, methane leak and emissions reports required by SB 1371 and this rulemaking. 

       

      Administrative Law Judge’s Ruling Entering Newly Revised Natural Gas Annual Reporting Requirements into the Record and Seeking Comments, dated January 26, 2016, has been filed.  Proceeding R.15-01-008 with the latest documents, rulings and decisions can be found here.  

       

      The following appendices are referred to in the January 26, 2016 ruling are also being posted for comments.

        1. Appendix 1: Transmission Pipelines
        2. Appendix 2: Transmission M&R Stations
        3. Appendix 3: Transmission Compressor Stations
        4. Appendix 4: Distribution Main and Service Stations
        5. Appendix 5: Distribution M&R Stations
        6. Appendix 6: Customer Meters
        7. Appendix 7: Underground Storage
        8. Appendix 8: Summary Tables
        9. Appendix 9: Emission Factors

         

        October 27, 2015:

        Methane Leak Abatement Proceeding Workshop on Cost-Effectiveness and Best Management Practices (R.15-01-008) presentations: 

          1. Agenda 
          2. SED Introduction
          3. CPUC Cost-Effectiveness
          4. Colorado State University/Professor von Fischer
          5. Environmental Defense Fund
          6. Southern California Gas 
          7. Pacific Gas & Electric  
          8. Southwest Gas

             

            September 23, 2015, Workshop on Methane Leak Reporting Issues (R.15-01-008), presentations:

            1. SED Workshop Slides with Agenda and Timeline
            2. CARB Presentation on Quantification and Emissions Factors
            3. SDG&E/SoCalGas Presentation on leak Sources
            4. How to Improve Future Reporting

             

            April 6, 2015, Workshop on Natural Gas Leak Abatement Best Practices (R.15-01-008), presentations: 

            1. Agenda
            2. Safety & Enforcement Division Introduction
            3. California Air Resources Board Methane Reduction Initiative
            4. Panel One: Policy  
            5. Panel Two: Technologies and Tools  
            6. ICF Report: Economic Analysis of Methane Emission Reduction Opportunities (March 2014)