The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced on Mar. 12 its ongoing efforts to help the state achieve a goal of supplying all retail electricity sales with renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045.
This transition is important as more Californians switch from natural gas-powered technologies to electric alternatives, increasing demand for reliable and clean energy. The CPUC plays a key role in ensuring that electricity providers procure clean energy, expand the grid at fair rates, and encourage customers to adjust power usage during peak periods.
Leuwam Tesfai, Executive Director of the CPUC, said, “The CPUC is working in real-time to make California’s vision for carbon-free electricity a reality and secure a cleaner and more prosperous future for all Californians. Importantly, we are also implementing the least-cost path to decarbonizing our electricity system while ensuring utilities maintain safe and reliable service to customers.”
The CPUC administers the Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) program, which requires retail electricity providers to meet specific targets for renewable energy use. Senate Bill 100 set requirements of 60 percent renewable resources by 2030 and all electricity from carbon-free sources by 2045. Cheryl Lee, Supervisor for Renewables Procurement at the CPUC, said, “Since the establishment of California’s RPS program in 2002, the CPUC has guided policies, enforcement, and programs that allowed California to meet and exceed the RPS and build an electric system that at times can provide 100 percent clean energy.”
Since 2020, retail electricity sellers have developed over 27,000 megawatts of new clean energy supply with contracts for an additional 22,000 megawatts by 2030. In February 2026, the CPUC required providers to procure another 6,000 megawatts of new clean energy and storage capacity by 2032.
The commission also supports proactive planning for transmission infrastructure through coordination with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), aiming to align investments where they provide greatest value while protecting ratepayers from excessive costs. Demand response programs incentivize customers to shift or reduce their usage during high-demand periods.
Currently, more than two thirds of California’s grid is powered by carbon-free sources. In recent years there has been record renewable procurement and installation of battery storage across the state. The grid operated on entirely clean power for nearly six hours per day on average in 2025—a significant increase since previous years.
Future articles will explore how these efforts extend into other sectors such as buildings and transportation as part of California’s broader climate goals.
