The California Public Utilities Commission has issued a Draft Resolution to schedule the fourth Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM) solicitation and authorize a fifth RAM auction to take place in 2014. Draft Resolution E-4582, issued April 9, 2013, would close bidding for the fourth RAM auction on June 28, 2013. The fifth RAM auction authorized by the Resolution would close no later than June 27, 2014. Under the Draft Resolution, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) are directed to solicit two-thirds of their remaining RAM capacity allocation in the fourth auction. The remaining one-third of capacity, plus any unsubscribed capacity from previous auctions, would be solicited in the fifth auction. The Draft Resolution does not alter the total RAM procurement targets of the three utilities or other components of the program. However, the addition of the fifth auction provides RAM participants with an additional opportunity to bid their renewable energy projects to the utilities.

PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E are required under the current RAM Program to procure a combined 1,299 MW of renewable energy from 3 to 20 MW projects through four auctions taking place from 2011 to 2013. The third RAM solicitation closed December 21, 2012. The utilities will submit advice letters to the Commission in May 2013 with the results of the third auction. In previous submissions to the Commission, SCE stated that it sought to procure 186 MW in the fourth auction and SDG&E stated it planned to procure 44 MW in the fourth auction. Depending upon the success of its third auction, PG&E may have approximately 100 MW of remaining procurement capacity. Under the Draft Resolution, this remaining capacity will be solicited across the fourth and fifth auctions. 

Comments on the Draft Resolution are due to the CPUC April 29, 2013.  The Commission currently plans to vote on the Draft Resolution at its May 9, 2013 meeting.