California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov Docket #: R.11-10-003

CPUC SETS FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC INTEREST ELECTRICITY INVESTMENTS TO BENEFIT CONSUMERS

SAN FRANCISCO, May 24, 2012 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today set up the framework to enable the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program to begin funding clean energy technologies and approaches for the benefit of electric consumers of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric.

EPIC was created by the CPUC in December 2011 to continue funding for the expiring Public Goods Charge. EPIC funds, $162 million annually from 2013-2020, will be administered 80 percent by the California Energy Commission for research, development, and demonstration, and market facilitation, and 20 percent by the utilities in the area of technology demonstration and deployment. All funds will be administered under CPUC oversight, with a proceeding at least every three years to consider more detailed investment plans presented by the administrators.

The guiding principle of EPIC funding is to provide electricity ratepayer benefits, defined as promoting greater reliability, lower costs, and increased safety, with complementary guiding principles that include efficient use of ratepayer monies, societal benefits, greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, low-emission vehicles/transportation, and economic development.

Said CPUC President Michael R. Peevey, "In order to meet our ongoing challenges of environmental improvement and upgrading our electricity infrastructure, we need sustained attention to developing and deploying new technologies for energy efficiency, demand-side management, and clean and renewable generation. EPIC provides the path to obtain these benefits."

Added Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon, "California has been a leader in energy research and development. This decision not only supports this legacy, but provides an independent and objective process for its deployment."

Said Commissioner Mark J. Ferron, "With the loss of the Public Goods Charge, California was facing the real possibility of losing our edge as the clean energy leader and innovator among states. The EPIC framework keeps us on the map and promotes innovation in emerging technologies such as biomass and biogas by setting aside 20 percent of the funding for technology demonstration and deployment for bioenergy projects."

The proposal voted on is available at

http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/WORD_PDF/AGENDA_DECISION/167158.pdf.

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

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