Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) Program

Background

The RPS was established in 2002 under Senate Bill (SB) 1078 and accelerated in 2006 under Senate Bill 107. In 2011, it was accelerated again with Senate Bill 2 (1x), requiring electric corporations to increase procurement from renewable energy sources to 33% of retail sales by the end of 2020.

DRA's Policy Position 

Pursuant to SBx1 2, Public Utilities Code 399.16 requires amendments to the RPS for the implementation of new portfolio content categories. In the new RPS Rulemaking, DRA advocates for the need for regulatory certainty, emphasizing that CPUC rules should be clear and no new rules should be applied retroactively.

See DRA's August 8, 2011 Opening Comments on the RPS Portfolio Content Categories, and August 19, 2011 Reply Comments.

DRA filed Comments on August 30, 2011, proposing incremental procurement targets to reach the 33% RPS by 2020. DRA believes the state should reach 25% renewables by 2016 and that 33% by 2020 is achievable. DRA filed Reply Comments on September 12, 2011.

Read more about DRA's Policy Position.

Current Proceeding 

Proposed decisions on the highest priority issues are expected in the fourth quarter of 2011. An amended scoping memo and schedule for the next round of issues will be released in the first quarter of 2012.

See the proceeding docket 

Other Resources

• See DRA's Presentation, Containing the Cost of California's RPS 
• See DRA's Presentation, Implementing the Renewables Portfolio Standard in California 
• See DRA's Presentation, The Green Rush: Implementing Renewables in California 
• See DRA's Report:  "Green Rush: Investor-Owned Utilities’ Compliance With the Renewables Portfolio Standard"
• CPUC's Renewables Portfolio Standard webpage  
• Market Price Referent (MPR) and above MPR Funds (AMF) 
•  Tradeable Renewable Energy Credits (TRECS)