454.58.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California must dramatically increase the capacity of its electrical transmission and distribution systems to meet the goals of Section 454.53 and to decarbonize its economy.
(2) The increase in transmission and distribution capacity must be done rapidly and cost-effectively.
(3) California transmission utilities and the Independent System Operator are not
may not be fully using available technology that can quickly and cost-effectively increase transmission capacity.
(4) Reconductoring existing transmission lines with advanced conductors and installing grid-enhancing technologies, such as advanced power flow control systems, dynamic line rating systems, and topology optimization software, can quickly and cost-effectively increase transmission capacity.
(5) The benefits of these technologies include lower electricity rates, less wildfire risk, increased reliability, less transmission line congestion, less curtailment of renewable generation resources, and increased capacity to interconnect new renewable generation, storage, and other zero-carbon resources.
(6) Grid-enhancing technologies are usually very low cost hardware and software items that can pay for themselves very quickly.
(7) Reconductoring existing transmission lines with advanced conductors in existing rights-of-way can be accomplished at a fraction of the cost of building new transmission lines and are therefore often quite cost-effective. cost effective.
(8) Grid-enhancing technologies can be deployed within months and reconductoring with advanced conductors can be accomplished within one or two
years. Other types of transmission capacity increases can take many years.
(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Grid-enhancing technologies” means hardware and software that dynamically increases the capacity of electrical lines and improves the efficiency, reliability, and safety of the grid. Grid-enhancing technologies include, but are not limited to, dynamic line rating systems, advanced power flow control systems, and topology optimization software.
(2) “Reconductored with advanced conductors” means replacing the existing electric conductor with a conductor that has a direct current electrical resistance at least 10 percent lower than existing conductors of a similar diameter on the
system and may include rebuilding support structures or other associated facilities.
(3) “Transmission utilities” means electrical corporations that are participating transmission owners that have turned over operation of their transmission systems to the Independent System Operator.
(c) (1) On or before January 1, 2026, the transmission utilities shall jointly prepare a grid-enhancing technologies strategic plan. The transmission utilities shall request the Independent System Operator to participate in preparing the plan.
(2) Upon completion of the plan, the transmission utilities shall submit the plan to the commission and make the plan publicly available. The commission may authorize portions of the plan to be redacted if necessary to protect system security.
(3) The plan shall include a timeline for implementation. As part of each subsequent integrated resource plan filed by the transmission utilities pursuant to Section 454.52, each transmission utility shall report its progress in implementing the plan.
(4) The plan shall be designed to achieve all of the following that are cost-effective: cost effective:
(A) Increase transmission capacity.
(B) Reduce transmission system congestion.
(C) Reduce curtailment of renewable and zero-carbon resources.
(D) Increase reliability.
(E) Reduce the risk of igniting wildfire. wildfire, by means of investments that are consistent with the transmission utility’s approved wildfire mitigation plan.
(F) Increase capacity to connect new renewable energy and zero-carbon resources.
(d) (1) Beginning January 1, 2026, and at least every four years thereafter, each transmission utility shall complete an evaluation of which of its
transmission and distribution lines can be reconductored with advanced conductors in a cost-effective manner. Each transmission utility shall request that the Independent System Operator participate in evaluating the transmission lines.
(2) The evaluation shall include a timeline for implementing distribution projects and self-approved transmission projects, and shall include a plan for proposing to the Independent System Operator projects for approval where that approval is required.
(3) The evaluation shall identify electrical lines where reconductoring with advanced conductors can cost-effectively achieve one or more of the following:
(A) Increase transmission or distribution capacity.
(B) Reduce transmission or distribution system congestion.
(C) Reduce curtailment of renewable and zero-carbon resources.
(D) Increase reliability.
(E) Reduce the risk of igniting wildfire. wildfire, where the investment is consistent with the transmission utility’s approved wildfire mitigation plan.
(F) Increase capacity to connect new renewable energy and
zero-carbon resources.
(G) Reduce line losses.
(H) Increase the ability to quickly energize new customers or serve increased customer load.
(4) Upon completion of the evaluation, each transmission utility shall submit the evaluation to the commission and make it publicly available. The commission may authorize portions of the evaluation to be redacted if necessary to protect system security.
(e) The commission shall request the Independent System Operator to consider the results of the plan prepared pursuant to subdivision (c) and each evaluation prepared pursuant to subdivision
(d) as part of its transmission planning process for economic, reliability, and policy analysis.