Transmission Development in California – What’s the Slowdown?

The report analyzes the complex, multi-phase transmission development process in California, noting that projects often take a decade or more to complete. It highlights significant delays in environmental reviews and application preparation, while suggesting that competitive solicitation by third-party developers may reduce costs and timelines. To meet Senate Bill 100 goals, the report recommends streamlining CPUC reviews, expanding competitive awards, and implementing state financing to protect ratepayers.

• California's goal to supply 100% of retail electricity from renewable and zero-carbon resources by 2045 requires massive infrastructure investment, with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) projecting over $30 billion in new transmission needs over the next twenty years.
• The transmission development process is characterized by severe delays; projects approved before the 2021-2022 Transmission Plan with costs over $50 million have averaged more than five years of delay, with some delays exceeding the original estimated project duration.
• Analysis of thirteen projects approved between 2012 and 2019 shows that the most acute delays occur during the developer's preparation of applications for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and during the environmental review phase.
• Third-party developers appear to be more efficient than incumbent utilities, as projects developed by incumbents took longer to reach the CPUC application stage, and competitive bidding resulted in an estimated 29% cost savings compared to incumbent utility costs.
• Transmission costs are rising and impacting consumers, with transmission revenue requirements increasing by over 38% between 2016 and 2021, and forecasts suggesting electric rates may be 10% to 20% higher than inflation between 2021 and 2030.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2023). Transmission Development in California – What’s the Slowdown? https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16151853/california-transmission-development.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Transmission Development in California – What’s the Slowdown? 2023. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16151853/california-transmission-development.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Transmission Development in California – What’s the Slowdown? |date=January 2023 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16151853/california-transmission-development.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2023transmission, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Transmission Development in California – What’s the Slowdown?}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16151853/california-transmission-development.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }