Edge Computing on Meters (ECOM)
Summary
SCH Number
2026070655
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Edge Computing on Meters (ECOM)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/16/2026
Document Description
Distributed Intelligence (DI) applications at existing PG&E customer premises throughout the service territory. These DI enabled meters provide real time monitoring of grid conditions, including fault detection, transformer and service level loading, and behind the meter load characteristics. The project will involve configuring DI applications, integrating required data systems, replacing existing meters with upgraded units, and monitoring performance for at least one year. The goal is to understand whether DI enabled smart meters can improve grid reliability and public safety by detecting ignition causing faults earlier, supporting customer electrification; such as electric vehicle charging, without requiring costly electrical service upgrades, and helping defer distribution and transformer replacements. The results will help support evaluation of the feasibility, operational benefits, and cost effectiveness of a potential larger scale deployment of AMI 2.0 meters and DI applications in future rate case proceedings. This project will provide benefits for disadvantaged and low-income communities, the utility grid, and California ratepayers by reducing wildfire ignition risks, improving situational awareness, and enabling more efficient use of existing infrastructure.
Contact Information
Name
Sebastian Rubio Ruiz
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Energy Commission Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Scott Mosher
Agency Name
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Oakland
Counties
Alameda
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
21 st and Webster St
Zip
94612
Other Location Info
300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA 94612
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301
Reasons for Exemption
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15301 provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination, are categorically exempt from CEQA. The project consists of replacing existing electric meters with AMI 2.0 enabled smart meters on several thousand customer premises within PG&E territory. Buildings in which the electric meters exist will not be structurally altered or suffer any damage as part of the meter installations. These modifications will not result in any expansion of capacity. For these reasons, the proposed work will not have any significant effect on the environment and falls under Section 15301.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15302
Reasons for Exemption
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15302 provides that the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced is categorically exempt from CEQA. This exemption includes the replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity. Consistent with Section 15302, the project consists of installing AMI 2.0 meters in place of existing customer electric meters in various buildings within PG&E territory. The replacement meters will be installed on the same site and location as the existing meters that are to be replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the existing structures: the meters will provide real-time monitoring of voltage uses and insight into load management, time-of-use rates, costs, and grid flexibility and reliability. These modifications will result in negligible or no expansion of capacity to the existing meters. The proposed work therefore falls under Section 15302.
This project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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