General Order 131-D Update
CPUC Rulemaking 23-05-018
Overview
General Order (GO) 131-D outlines rules for the permitting and construction of electrical transmission lines, power lines, distribution lines, substations, and generation facilities in California. In the R.23-05-018 rulemaking proceeding, the Commission is considering updates to GO 131-D to implement Senate Bill (SB) 529 (Hertzberg; Stats. 2022, Ch. 357) and make other changes consistent with SB 529 to streamline and clarify permitting requirements for electrical transmission infrastructure.
The 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Phase 1 Issues (D.23-12-035) amended GO 131-D to implement the statutory requirements of SB 529 and to update outdated references, concluding Phase 1.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, the Commission is considering all other changes to GO 131-D not 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. The Energy Division issued a staff proposal on May 17, 2024 and held a workshop on June 3, 2024, with the aim of adopting a new GO 131-E and concluding Phase 2 by January 31, 2025.
See the R.23-05-018 Proceeding Docket for a list of all documents filed in this proceeding.
Phase 2
Schedule
2023
- December 2023 – Beginning of Phase 2 following the adoption of D.23-12-035
2024
- January to May 2024 – Party comments on Phase 2 issues; development of staff proposal
- May 2024 – Issuance of Phase 2 staff proposal (Staff Proposal for R.23-05-018 Phase 2 Updates to General Order 131-D)
- June 2024 – Workshop (June 3, 2024; see details below)
- July 2024 – Opening and reply comments on Phase 2 staff proposal
- Opening comments due July 1, 2024
- Reply comments due July 15, 2024
- December 2024 – Proposed Decision (PD) circulated for comment
2025
- January 2025 – Phase 2 expected to be resolved by January 31, 2025
Key Events
- December 18, 2023 – Administrative Law Judges’ Ruling Inviting Comment on Phase 2 Issues
- December 20, 2023 – Email Ruling Clarifying Due Dates for Comment on Phase 2 Issues
- January 10, 2024 – Email Ruling Extending Time for Phase 2 Comments and Issuance of Staff Proposal
- February 5, 2024 – Opening comments on the Administrative Law Judges’ Ruling Inviting Comment on Phase 2 Issues (see proceeding docket)
- February 26, 2024 – Reply comments on the Administrative Law Judges’ Ruling Inviting Comment on Phase 2 Issues (see proceeding docket); Email Ruling Granting Motion for Party Status of Golden Gate Clean Energy, LLC
- April 24, 2024 – Administrative Law Judges’ Ruling on Center for Biological Diversity’s Showing of Significant Financial Hardship
- May 17, 2024 - Administrative Law Judges’ Ruling Inviting Comment on Phase 2 Staff Proposal and Noticing Workshop; Staff Proposal for R.23-05-018 Phase 2 Updates to General Order 131-D
- May 30, 2024 – Email Ruling Correcting Workshop Login Information
- June 3, 2024 – Workshop (see details below)
- July 1, 2024 - Opening comments on the Administrative Law Judges' Ruling Inviting Comment on Phase 2 Staff Proposal and Noticing Workshop (see proceeding docket)
- July 15, 2024 - Reply comments on the Administrative Law Judges' Ruling Inviting Comment on Phase 2 Staff Proposal and Noticing Workshop (see proceeding docket)
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
- May 18, 2023 – Order Instituting Rulemaking to Update and Amend Commission General Order 131-D
- June 22, 2023 – Opening comments on the OIR (see proceeding docket)
- July 7, 2023 – Reply comments on the OIR (see proceeding docket)
- July 31, 2023 – Assigned Commissioner’s Scoping Memo and Ruling
- September 12, 2023 – Email Ruling Granting Motions for Party Status of Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, and Natural Resources Defense Council
- September 29, 2023 – Joint Motion for Adoption of Phase 1 Settlement Agreement
- October 26, 2023 – Proposed Decision Addressing Phase 1 Issues
- October and November 2023 – Opening and reply comments on Joint Motion for Adoption of Phase 1 Settlement Agreement (see proceeding docket)
- November 2023 – Opening and reply comments on the Proposed Decision (see proceeding docket)
- December 14, 2023 – Decision Addressing Phase 1 Issues (D.23-12-035)
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 at tommy.alexander@cpuc.ca.gov.
Additional Resources:
- Current version of GO 131-D (effective Dec. 14, 2023)
- Former version of GO 131-D (effective Sep. 10, 1995)
- R.23-05-018 Proceeding Docket
- CPUC CEQA Projects and Permitting Process
- Press Release: CPUC To Update Transmission Siting Regulations To Address Electricity Reliability and Climate Goals (May 18, 2023)