Several recent policy changes have shaken up California’selectricity procurement process, and the agencies who regulate power reliabilityand supply.The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has enacted its much-anticipatedframework for energy procurement. The new rules play an important role in instillingconfidence back in the market and securing future electricity supply followingthe energy crisis in 2000 and 2001.

CPUC commissioner Geoffrey Brown says the new procurement rules are