Electric Program Investment Charge, 2025 Annual Report

The Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) is California’s premier electricity sector research and development program. EPIC drives innovation and advances science and technology in energy efficiency, load flexibility, renewable energy and advanced clean generation, transportation, grid transmission and distribution, and energy-related environmental protection, among other areas important to improving and decarbonizing California’s electricity system. EPIC is funded by a ratepayer surcharge from the state’s electric investor-owned utilities, and EPIC investments deliver benefits back to ratepayers.

EPIC is overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and administered separately by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the state’s three largest electric investor-owned utilities. CEC-administered EPIC investments support applied research and development, clean energy demonstration and deployment projects, and market facilitation activities that benefit electric ratepayers and lead to technological advancements that, in turn, can overcome key barriers to the state’s energy and climate goals.

This report summarizes the progress and status of EPIC-funded CEC activities from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. In 2025, EPIC continued to invest in promising clean energy innovations while leveraging existing federal, public, and private capital to maintain and accelerate the development of novel technologies to benefit California’s electricity ratepayers. Many companies and projects funded in prior years began to achieve technology validation, at-scale deployment, early-stage manufacturing, and product commercialization, enhancing the affordability, sustainability, reliability, equity, and safety of the clean energy transition.

The report was prepared in accordance with applicable CPUC Decisions and California Public Resources Code Section 25711.5.