As summer 2026 winds down, California regulators and lawmakers are sending a clear signal about the value of energy efficiency programs from a high-stakes CPUC ruling on SDG&E's program administration to new legislation extending school EE funding.

2026 is shaping up to be one of California's most consequential years for energy efficiency regulation. This quarter saw all 13 EE portfolio administrators file their 2028–2031 Portfolio and Business Plans with the CPUC, launching an 18-month review process for a combined $5 billion budget, while SDG&E's bid to exit its regional EE programs advanced with a contested two-party settlement.