News and Articles

September 12, 2017

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) encourages members of the public to participate in upcoming California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) meetings regarding the joint proposal on the future of Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP). The meetings will take place at the Ludwick Community Center in San Luis Obispo on September 14, 2017.

If approved by the CPUC, the joint proposal would increase investment in energy efficiency and renewables beyond current state mandates, while phasing out PG&E's production of nuclear power in California by 2025. It will also help DCPP employees and the San Luis Obispo County community transition to a future without the plant in operation.

The parties to the joint proposal include PG&E, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245, Coalition of California Utility Employees, Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council, California Energy Efficiency Industry Council and Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility.

"The Diablo Canyon Power Plant joint proposal represents the most appropriate and responsible path forward for our customers, employees, the local community and the environment. The agreement supports our state's clean energy vision and ensures an orderly transition from nuclear power to other greenhouse gas-free resources, while supporting our local plant workers and neighbors. PG&E welcomes and values feedback on the joint proposal and we will continue our dialogue with stakeholders as it moves through the CPUC’s review process," said Ed Halpin, Senior Vice President, Generation and Chief Nuclear Officer.

The joint proposal was announced on June 21, 2016. In line with the company's commitment to ensuring an open and transparent process, PG&E hosted a workshop for groups who regularly participate in CPUC proceedings, as well as four information meetings in which PG&E provided an opportunity for the public to ask questions and to comment on the joint proposal. This feedback was included along with the filing of the joint proposal at the CPUC last year.

Dozens of parties are currently participating in the state's review process, and the September 14 public participation hearings represent an additional opportunity for the public to provide input.

PG&E has requested that the CPUC reach a final decision on the joint proposal application this year.

CPUC Meeting Times and Location
Ludwick Community Center - Assembly Room
864 Santa Rosa Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
September 14, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

About the Joint Proposal

California's energy landscape is changing dramatically. State policies that focus on renewables and energy efficiency, coupled with projected lower customer electricity demand in the future, will result in a significant reduction in the need for the electricity produced by DCPP past 2025.

Reflecting this change, PG&E partnered with labor and leading environmental organizations on a joint proposal that would increase investment in energy efficiency and renewables while retiring DCPP at the end of its current Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) operating licenses, which expire in 2024 and 2025.

Recognizing that the procurement, construction and implementation of a GHG-free portfolio of energy efficiency and renewables will take time, the joint parties agreed to support PG&E in obtaining the state approvals needed to operate DCPP to the expiration of its current NRC operating licenses.

This avoided an early shutdown of DCPP and associated negative economic and social impacts, including replacing the plant's output required to meet customer demand with non-GHG-free resources.

As part of the joint proposal, PG&E immediately ceased any efforts on its part to renew the DCPP operating licenses, and asked the NRC to suspend consideration of the pending DCPP license renewal application. PG&E will withdraw its license renewal application upon CPUC approval of the joint proposal application.

PG&E does not believe long-term customer rates will increase as a result of the joint proposal.

Commitment to Employees and the Community

The parties to the joint proposal are committed to supporting a successful transition for DCPP employees and the greater San Luis Obispo community.

Accordingly, $85 million has been proposed in support of a community transition plan. PG&E, along with San Luis Obispo County, several local cities and the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, announced details of the revised community impact mitigation program last November.

PG&E's proposed DCPP employee program will provide, among other things, incentives to retain employees during the remaining operating years of the plant, a retraining and development program to facilitate redeployment of a portion of plant personnel to the decommissioning project or other positions within the company, and severance payments upon the completion of employment at the end of the plant's license life.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.