SAN FRANCISCO – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today enhanced the safety of battery energy storage facilities by establishing new standards for the maintenance and operation of such facilities, and increased oversight over the emergency response action plans for the facilities, which play a crucial role in California’s transition away from fossil fuels.
The CPUC modified General Order 167, which currently provides a method to implement and enforce maintenance and operation standards for electric generating facilities, in order to add new safety standards for the maintenance and operation of battery energy storage systems, as required by Senate Bill (SB) 1383. The CPUC also made explicit that battery storage facility owners must develop emergency response and emergency action plans, as required by SB 38. In addition, the CPUC made other technical updates to the standards to improve safety, reliability, and effectiveness of operation and maintenance activities, such as establishing technical logbook standards for battery storage systems, and expanding requirements for emergency plans that relate to all electric generating facilities.
Growth and Maturation of Battery Storage in California
Over the past several years, the deployment of battery storage systems has grown significantly throughout California, growing from 500 megawatts (MW) in 2019 to over 13,300 MW statewide in 2024. Likewise, battery storage system technologies and standards have also matured over time. Battery storage systems are one of the key technologies California relies on to enhance reliability and reduce dependency on polluting fossil fuel plants. Battery storage systems soak up clean energy in the daytime when the sun is shining, store that electricity, and then export it to the grid in the evening hours when the sun is down.
In 2024, California made historic progress in clean energy deployment. The state brought more than 7,000 MW online—the largest amount in a single year in California’s history. This includes over 4,000 MW of new battery storage.
California’s current installed battery storage capacity is over 20 percent of California’s peak demand. The state’s projected need for battery storage capacity is estimated at 52,000 MW by 2045.
More Information
###
About the California Public Utilities Commission
The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures
Californians access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. Visit www.cpuc.ca.gov for more information.
News Release
