Diablo Canyon Power Plant.
Diablo Canyon Power Plant.

Community Invited to Forum This Week Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Costs

Author: California Public Utilities Commission
Date: 8/5/2019 9:52:38 AM

Residents and organizations in and near San Luis Obispo are invited to give their perspective and input this week about PG&E's requests related to its Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.


The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold public forums for residents and organizations in and near San Luis Obispo to give their perspective and input to the CPUC about Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) requests related to its Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, as follows:

Date and Time

Meeting Location

August 7, 2019

  • 5 p.m.: Information Hearing
  • 6 p.m.: Public Forum

County Government Center

County Board of Supervisors Chamber

1055 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

August 8, 2019

  • 10 a.m.: Information Hearing
  • 11 a.m.: Public Forum

County Government Center

County Board of Supervisors Chamber

1055 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

Information Hearing

At the information hearings prior to the public forums, there will be brief presentations by the CPUC, PG&E, and other groups participating in the nuclear decommissioning proceeding. These groups are called “parties” to the proceeding, and they advocate for different perspectives, such as small businesses, agricultural customers, and residential customers. The purpose of the information hearing is to provide information that will assist the public in understanding the proceeding and the decommissioning process.

Public Forum

The public forums, called Public Participation Hearings, will begin with a brief overview of PG&E’s request; then public comments will be heard. The CPUC Administrative Law Judge assigned to this proceeding is scheduled to write a Proposed Decision in the case for CPUC Commissioner consideration within the year.

The CPUC welcomes attendance and comment on PG&E’s request at these public forums, as public comments will help the CPUC reach an informed decision.

For those unable to attend in person, written comments may be submitted to: CPUC Public Advisor, 505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102, or via email to [email protected]. Please refer to proceeding number A.18-07-013 or A.18-12-008 on any written or email correspondence.

All public comments received are provided to the CPUC’s Commissioners and the Administrative Law Judge assigned to the proceeding.

Application (A.) 18-07-013

On July 23, 2018, PG&E submitted an application to the CPUC requesting approval to establish the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Planning Memorandum Account to track decommissioning planning costs. According to PG&E, it is necessary for them to track decommissioning planning costs separately because the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations limit access to the nuclear decommissioning trusts for the costs of decommissioning planning. Under NRC regulations, PG&E may only access 3 percent of the minimum decommissioning funding amount established to retire Diablo Canyon Units 1 and 2. PG&E states that it believes the decommissioning planning activities will exceed the allowed funding amount. The company is not seeking to recover costs in this application, but proposes to request cost recovery and ratemaking in the Nuclear Decommissioning Cost Triennial Proceeding A.18-12-008.

Application (A.) 18-12-008

In this proceeding, PG&E submitted an application to the CPUC requesting cost recovery and ratemaking to support the decommissioning activities for the Diablo Canyon and the Humboldt Bay power plants. According to PG&E, the requested revenue requirement to fund decommissioning planning over the next six years is necessary to avoid higher costs, such as taxes, to customers.

While a quorum of Commissioners and/or their staff may attend, no official action will be taken on this matter at the public forums.

Proceedings A.18-07-013 and A.18-12-008 were consolidated by the Scoping Memo Ruling issued March 7, 2019: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M270/K491/270491135.PDF

The Ruling setting these public forums is available at: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M298/K505/298505232.PDF.

If specialized accommodations are needed to attend, such as non-English or sign language interpreters, please contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office at [email protected] or toll free at 866-849-8390 at least three business days in advance of the public forum.

For more information on public forums, please see www.cpuc.ca.gov/PPH.

To receive electronic updates on CPUC proceedings, sign-up for the CPUC’s free subscription service at http://subscribecpuc.cpuc.ca.gov.

The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians’ access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.