Energy: electrical demand forecasts.

In the bill summary, the phrase 'upon aggregated system operation, operation of behind-the-meter load modifying technologies' was corrected to 'upon aggregated system operation of behind-the-meter load modifying technologies,' removing a redundant word.

A typo in the legislative findings was fixed: 'into in the state's electricity demand forecast' was corrected to 'in the state's electricity demand forecast.'

In new Section 25403.6, the definition of 'load-serving entity' was renumbered from subsection (c) to subsection (b), and an empty subsection (c) label appears in its place. This is a structural reorganization with no change to the substance of the definitions or requirements.

The document was reformatted from a formal enrolled bill layout (with page numbers, signature lines for Chief Clerk, Secretary of the Senate, and Governor) to a web page display with navigation menus, bill status metadata, and version history. No changes to the operative legal text.

The legislative intent section was changed from stating the Legislature's intent to enact subsequent legislation (a placeholder) to directly requiring the Energy Commission to develop upfront technical requirements and load modification protocols. This makes the requirement immediate rather than deferred to future bills.

The stated goal of the load modification protocols was expanded from improving grid reliability alone to improving 'grid reliability and affordability,' broadening the policy objective.

The commission is now required to 'define and publicize methodologies for load modification protocols' by which a load-serving entity may reduce or modify its electrical demand forecast, adding a transparency obligation that was not in the prior version.

Changed 'deployment of load modifying technologies and programmatic measures' to 'operation of load modifying technologies and programmatic measures,' shifting from a one-time installation concept to an ongoing operational requirement.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now carries recognized fiscal implications requiring fiscal committee review.

Finding (1) removed the phrase 'enabled by load automation technologies,' simplifying the reference to demand flexibility. Finding (4) removed specific references to appropriated funding for demand-side and distributed energy resource incentives, replacing them with broader language about plans and programs for clean energy investments.

The commission's core obligation changed from 'adopt a set of upfront technical requirements and load modification protocols' to 'define and publicize methodologies for load modification protocols.' This is a less binding standard - defining and publicizing methodologies is weaker than adopting formal requirements.

Required consultation partners were narrowed. The Assembly version required consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, Independent System Operator, load-serving entities, and resource aggregators. The Senate version requires consultation only with load-serving entities and resource aggregators, removing PUC and ISO from the operative text (though they still appear in the 'deemed by' language).

The qualifying basis for demand forecast reduction was expanded to explicitly include 'behind-the-meter load modifying technologies and programmatic measures.' The Assembly version referenced only 'aggregated system operation' through deployment of technologies. The Senate version adds behind-the-meter as a specific category.

In subsection (a)(2), 'distributed energy resource aggregators' was changed to 'behind-the-meter distributed energy resource aggregators,' narrowing the partnership scope for testing technological approaches to behind-the-meter resources specifically.

The formal definition of 'Load modification protocols' (a combination of capabilities and operational parameters to confidently reduce a load-serving entity's electrical demand forecast for any specified hour or hours) was removed entirely from the definitions section. Only the 'load-serving entity' definition remains.

Minor typo correction in findings: 'into the state's electricity demand forecast' changed to 'in the state's electricity demand forecast.'

New Section 25403.6 requires the Energy Commission to adopt upfront technical requirements and load modification protocols by December 1, 2026, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, Independent System Operator, load-serving entities, and resource aggregators.

The commission must evaluate new and existing mechanisms that can support or expand opportunities for load-serving entities to modify their hourly resource adequacy obligations through load management, and may include findings in its integrated energy policy report.

The bill now provides an option for a load-serving entity to reduce or modify its electrical demand forecast upon aggregated system operation, which was not present in the introduced version that only expressed legislative intent.

The legislative intent statement was broadened to reference the commission's experience with 'flexibility initiatives, proceedings, and experience developing distributed resource plans and programs,' and 'technical guidance' was replaced with 'upfront technical requirements.'

New definitions added: 'load modification protocols' (a combination of capabilities and operational parameters to confidently reduce a load-serving entity's electrical demand forecast for any specified hour or hours) and a cross-reference definition for 'load-serving entity.'

The commission is authorized to use available appropriated funding to test technological and programmatic approaches in partnership with load-serving entities and distributed energy resource aggregators.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amended bill now has fiscal implications requiring review.