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 Commission's 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Phase 1 Issues (D.23-12-035) amended GO 131-D to implement the statutory requirements of SB 529 and to update outdated references, concluding Phase 1.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.

Phase 2

Key Events

2025

2024

2025

 

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: