Gas Research and Development Program: Proposed Budget Plan for Fiscal Year 2022-23

In 2000, Assembly Bill (AB) 1002 (Wright, Chapter 932, Statutes of 2000) was enacted, requiring the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to add a surcharge on gas consumed in California. This surcharge funded various energy efficiency programs and public interest research and development (R&D) to benefit gas ratepayers. AB 1002 also required the CPUC to designate an entity to administer the research component of AB 1002. In 2004, the CPUC issued Decision 04-08-010, designating the California Energy Commission (CEC) as the research fund administrator.

This Gas Research and Development (Gas R&D) Budget Plan describes the CEC’s proposed gas R&D initiatives for FY 2022-23. The proposed R&D aligns with the themes of targeted gas system decommissioning, decarbonization of gas end-uses, energy efficiency, and entrepreneur development. The initiatives support state energy policies and goals, with several initiatives directly benefitting underresourced communities. The proposed research funding for FY 2022-23 is $24 million, and the budget plan covers July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. The budget plan benefitted from input from representatives of the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group (DACAG), CPUC and other agency coordination, and a public workshop, among other input received on CEC’s gas related efforts.

CEC staff appreciates the coordination with CPUC on the proposed research initiatives and CPUC’s ongoing support to enable access to needed utility infrastructure data.