Licensing application deposits and compliance fees are set in statute (Public Resources Code, section 25806) as follows:
- Application for Certification (AFC) and Opt-In Certification Application deposit: Nonrefundable deposit of $750,000 must be submitted with the licensing application. The CEC will invoice the applicant for the CEC’s actual costs to process the application if exceeding the $750,000 deposit.
- Annual Compliance fee: $70,000. For facilities licensed after January 1, 2004, the first annual fee is due when the CEC issues a license by adopting the final decision. Subsequent payments are due by July 1 of each year. (The fiscal year for the annual fee is July 1 to June 30.)
- Post Certification Petition fee: Nonrefundable fee of $5,000 must be submitted with the petition. The CEC will invoice the project owner for the CEC’s actual costs to process the petition if exceeding the $5,000 fee.
The licensing deposit and compliance and petition fees are adjusted annually per state law. The deposit and fee amounts shown above are current for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Small Power Plant Exemption Fees
Applicants requesting a small power plant exemption (SPPE) must reimburse the CEC’s actual cost to prepare and process a negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, or environmental impact report pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
A deposit is required at the time of filing. If costs exceed the deposit, the applicant will be billed for the difference. A refund will be provided if the costs are less than the deposit. There is no annual compliance fee since the CEC is not licensing the project if the small power plant exemption is granted.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Fees
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) requires an environmental document filing fee – see CEQA - Environmental Document Filing Fees. For an Application for Certification approved by the CEC, the CDFW fee is the amount shown for a Certified Regulatory Program environmental document. The CDFW fee for CEC’s approval of a Small Power Plant Exemption or Opt-In Certification application is the amount shown for a Negative Declaration, Mitigated Negative Declaration, or Environmental Impact Report, as applicable. The CDFW fee is included in the licensing or exemption cost paid by applicants.