Improving the Residential Climate Credit Workshop 8-11-26

Please register for the Methods for Improving the Residential Climate Credit Workshop at:
https://cpuc.webex.com/weblink/register/r041c1749f827d6cd0d93e61dd95977bb

We request you register in advance to ensure adequate in-person space and tech support for online participants. However, whether you register in advance, you will still be able to virtually access the workshop at any point through the links above and below.

In-Person Attendance
Location: 1st Floor Courtyard Room, CPUC Headquarters (505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102)
In-Person attendance is highly encouraged.

Virtual Attendance
This workshop will be broadcast via Webex webinar.
Webinar Link: https://cpuc.webex.com/cpuc/j.php?MTID=m595020f577b145c5bb2b65f31c9d1757
Webinar Number: (access code): 2493 610 6439
Webinar Password: CLIMATE (2546283 when dialing from a phone or video system)

Join by phone: 1-855-282-6330 United States Toll Free, +1-415-655-0002 United States Toll
Access code: 2493 610 6439

As described in the June 29, 2026 Ruling, this workshop will discuss the Assigned Commissioner’s proposal concepts, provide a forum for parties to vet potential proposal ideas, discuss proposal requirements, and gather public input. Aligned with the Rulemaking’s goal to improve the Climate Credit, the workshop will provide a forum for parties to review and discuss the existing method for determining the residential Climate Credit, investigate and discuss data available to inform proposals, and hear from researchers on different options.

To guide next steps, with the goal of an operational updated Climate Credit methodology in place for the 2028 distribution, staff will discuss proposal requirements and review the timeline for the remainder of the proceeding. The workshop will conclude with an opportunity for public and stakeholder comments.

CPUC Energy Division staff will facilitate this workshop. Throughout the workshop, staff from Energy Division’s Climate & Equity, Rates, and Rate Discount teams will be available to facilitate Q&A.

Background
Beginning in 2014, each year tens of millions of California’s electric and gas residential customers benefit from California’s landmark Cap-and-Invest Program (formerly known as Cap-and-Trade) through the Climate Credit. To date, residential customers have received over $17 billion dollars of automatic, on-bill energy assistance. In 2025, the Commission opened a Rulemaking to Improve the California Climate Credit (R.25-07-013). This Rulemaking will explore potential approaches to maximize the effectiveness of Cap-and-Invest Program proceeds to support customer affordability.

In service of this goal and at the direction of AB 1207 (Irwin, 2025), in April 2026 the Commission shifted the distribution of the Climate Credit from the typically low-billed months of April and October to the typically high-billed months of August and September (for large utilities – PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E) or October and November (for small utilities – Liberty, PacifiCorp, and Bear Valley) to help customers manage bills when they are typically the highest for most customers.
Now, the Commission is considering changes to the existing calculation method used to determine the value of the Climate Credit distributed to residential customers.

Workshop Notice