General Order 131-D Update

CPUC Rulemaking 23-05-018

Overview

From July 1994 to January 2025 General Order (GO) 131-D set forth the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC or Commission) rules for permitting electrical transmission and generation infrastructure in California. In the R.23-05-018 rulemaking proceeding, the Commission updated GO 131-D to streamline and clarify permitting requirements for electrical transmission facilities pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 529 (Hertzberg; Stats. 2022, Ch. 357), resulting in the adoption of a new GO131-E effective January 30, 2025.

The R.23-05-018 proceeding began in May 2023 with the Order Instituting Rulemaking to Update and Amend Commission General Order 131-D (OIR). In July 2023, the Assigned Commissioner’s Scoping Memo and Ruling bifurcated the proceeding into two phases: Phase 1 and Phase 2. In December 2023, the Commission’s Decision Addressing Phase 1 Issues (D.23-12-035) amended GO 131-D to implement the statutory requirements of SB 529 and to update outdated references, concluding Phase 1.

In Phase 2 of the R.23-05-018 proceeding, the Commission considered a broader array of updates to GO 131-D beyond those addressed in D.23-12-035, including modifications proposed in the Joint Motion for Adoption of Phase 1 Settlement Agreement and other changes proposed by parties and Commission staff over the course of the proceeding. On January 30, 2025, in Decision 25-01-055, the Commission adopted a new GO 131-E and closed the R.23-05-018 proceeding, susperseding GO 131-D and setting forth new rules for the permitting and construction of electrical transmission and generation infrastructure in California.

See the R.23-05-018 Proceeding Docket for a list of all documents filed in this proceeding.

GO 131-E Pilot Program

Overview

In the Decision Adopting General Order 131-E (D.25-01-055), the Commission directed CPUC Energy Division staff to administer a pilot program to track metrics for at least four pilot projects and identify ongoing opportunities to accelerate the Commission’s existing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review process for electrical transmission projects. Since the adoption of GO 131-E, staff have been developing the pilot program as part of broader implementation efforts.

Workshop

On August 21, 2025, Commission Energy Division staff held a workshop to present a list of proposed metrics for the GO-131-E pilot program and to elecit input on those metrics from R.23-05-018 proceeding parties and members of the general public.  The slides presented during the workshop are linked below.

Staff requested written comments on the proposed metrics to be emailed to the R.23-05-018 service list by September 5, 2025.

Phase 2

Key Events

2025

2024

2023

 

Workshop

On Monday, June 3, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, Commission staff facilitated a workshop via Webex video conference to present the Phase 2 staff proposal and answer questions to inform parties’ written comments.

The slide deck presented during the workshop is available at the following link: GO 131 Workshop Slides 

Additional details on the workshop are available in the Administrative Law Judges’ Ruling Inviting Comment on Phase 2 Staff Proposal and Noticing Workshop (May 17, 2024) and the Email Ruling Correcting Workshop Login Information (May 30, 2024). 

Phase 1

Key Events

Additional Information

Subscriptions and Service List: Subscribe to the proceeding or join the service list to receive email notification of documents filed by the Commission and parties in the GO 131-D update proceeding (R.23-05-018), including rulings, decisions, and party comments. Visit the Public Advisor's Office website for procedural information about participating in CPUC proceedings. 

Contact: For inquiries regarding the R.23-05-018 GO 131-D update proceeding, please contact Tommy Alexander attommy.alexander@cpuc.ca.gov.

Additional Resources: