Business
SoCalGas Petitions CPUC to Update Hydrogen Blending Demonstration Requirements Based on Global Safety History and Research
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), along with San Diego Gas & Electric Company and Southwest Gas Corporation, on Tuesday submitted a petition to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to modify a 2022 decision ordering the California investor-owned gas utilities (IOUs) to develop a demonstration project blending up to 5% hydrogen into natural gas prior to recommending a systemwide clean renewable hydrogen injection standard for medium pressure distribution systems.
About this update from Dba Sempra
[{"type":"text","content":"LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), along with San Diego Gas & Electric Company and Southwest Gas Corporation, on Tuesday submitted a petition to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to modify a 2022 decision ordering the California investor-owned gas utilities (IOUs) to develop a demonstration project blending up to 5% hydrogen into natural gas prior to recommending a systemwide clean renewable hydrogen injection standard for medium pressure distribution systems.","length":536,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Because the safety case for low‑level blends has been advanced since the CPUC's order, the utilities are asking the agency to remove the requirement to develop the 5% demonstration projects before recommending a systemwide blending standard. The petition does not change the CPUC's requirement for utilities to develop demonstration projects studying blends in the 5%–20% range, which remain an important part of California's long‑term decarbonization planning.","length":473,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Since 2022, a significant body of new research, operational data, and real‑world experience has emerged. Utilities in America – including in California – and around the world have already demonstrated that blending up to 5% hydrogen into existing natural gas systems can be done safely, reliably, and without modifying customer appliances.","length":339,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":""Building off what we've learned collectively over the past few years, the CPUC has an opportunity to save ratepayers both money and time as we work to help California scale hydrogen production and decrease carbon emissions," said SoCalGas Vice President of Gas Engineering and System Integrity Amy Kitson. "Hydrogen blending is already being used here in the U.S. and around the world every day to power people's homes and businesses, which has shown us that mixing up to 5% hydrogen can be done safely in medium pressure natural gas systems."","length":572,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":""Blending up to 5% hydrogen is a practical, forward-looking step toward decarbonizing our natural gas system," said Sen. Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera). "It leverages existing infrastructure to reduce emissions t...