California utilities scored a major victory Wednesday, with regulators stripping a key element from a proposed power line undergrounding program.
What happened: The California Public Utilities Commission published a revised draft resolutionfor its program that will govern a 10-year plan by the state’s investor-owned utilities to put electrical wires underground.
The new proposal removed the controversial cost-to-benefit ratio that the CPUC had previously put forward for evaluating which power lines could be placed underground. Instead, it instructs Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric to propose a new methodology to regulators down the road.
Why it matters: This change was a blow to affordability advocates. It signals that the CPUC is open to a more utility-friendly approach, and gives the power companies an opportunity to take a larger role in shaping the regulation.
