W Estrella Substation and elcome!Paso Robles Area Power ......Estrella Substation and Paso Robles Area Power Connect Open House ¡Bienvenido! Reunión pública de Estrella Substation

"PG&E" refers to Pacifi c Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2015 Pacifi c Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved.

Welcome! Estrella Substation and Paso Robles Area Power Connect Open House

¡Bienvenido! Reunión pública de Estrella Substation y Paso Robles Area Power Connect

The California Independent System Operator Corporation, which manages the state’s electric grid, selected NextEra Energy Transmission West (NEET West) and PG&E to build new electric infrastructure to ensure longterm electric reliability in the Paso Robles community and surrounding areas. NEET West was selected to build a new electric substation called “Estrella” in the Paso Robles community and PG&E is responsible for connecting the Estrella Substation to the local power grid through a set of electric grid upgrades known as Paso Robles Area Power Connect.

Breakdown of PG&E’s Paso Robles Area Power Connect

Modify the existing Morro BayGates 230 kV transmission line to connect to NEET West’s proposed Estrella Substation

Construct a new 70 kV transmission line to connect the San MiguelPaso Robles 70 kV transmission line to NEET West’s proposed Estrella Substation

Upgrade approximately 2 miles of the San MiguelPaso Robles 70 kV transmission line

Make reliability upgrades to our existing Templeton, San Miguel and Paso Robles substations

Paso Robles Area Power Connect Overview

"PG&E" refers to Pacifi c Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2015 Pacifi c Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved.

Project Overview Increasing electric reliability for Paso Robles and surrounding communities

NEET West - Estrella Substation

• Siting and building the proposed Estrella Substation

PG&E - Paso Robles Area Power Connect

• Modifying the existing Morro Bay-Gates 230 kV transmission line to connect to the Estrella Substation

• Constructing a new 70 kV transmission line to connect the San Miguel-Paso Robles 70 kV transmission line to the Estrella Substation

• Upgrading a portion of the San Miguel-Paso 46

Robles 70 kV transmission line

• Building additional components at the Estrella Substation site to connect the new substation to the new transmission line and local power grid

• Making reliability upgrades to our existing substations in the area

Potential Routes

Estrella Substation and Paso Robles Area Power Connect

Electric Grid Overview How electricity moves from its source to your home or business

Power Generation TransmissionSubstation

DistributionSubstation

Transmission Lines

Distribution LinesHomes and Businesses

Renewable

28%

18%

10%

22%

22%

Unspecified

Natural Gas

Hydroelectric

Nuclear

*“Unspecified Power” refers to electricity generated that is not traceable to specificgeneration sources by any auditable contract trail.

**These figures are preliminary and will not be finalized until verified by the CaliforniaEnergy Commission.

2013 electric power mix delivered to retail customers

"PG&E" refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2015 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved.Estrella Substation and Paso Robles Area Power Connect

Providing Reliable Energy Staying in front of the region’s growing energy demands

• Benefits nearly 47,000 customers in San Miguel, Paso Robles, Templeton, Creston, Atascadero and Santa Margarita

• Helps prevent any particular part of the local transmission system from becoming overloaded

• Reduces the risk of widespread power outages

• Achieves electric system compliance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards

Estrella Substation and Paso Robles Area Power Connect "PG&E" refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2015 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved.

Supporting Economic Growth Investing in local electric infrastructure

• Provides a highly reliable and stable electricity source for the area’s agricultural and industrial sectors

• Helps prepare the local electric grid for continued economic growth

• Promotes a strong commercial environment that attracts and retains job-creating businesses

• Positions the region to meet energy demand through investment in new electric infrastructure


Breaking Down the Regulatory Process California electric projects approval process

Potential Project Sponsors Submit Proposals to Build New Estrella Substation

CAISO Identifies Opportunities to Improve Reliability and Efficiency

CAISO Approves Project as Part of Annual Plan and Determines it is Eligible for Competitive Solicitation

Local Power Grid Needs Identified Pacific Gas & ElectricCompany (PG&E)

Develops Project toMeet Needs

Project Submitted to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO)

CAISO Validates Project Need and Holds Public Meetings

CAISO Reviews Proposals and Selects NextEra Energy Transmission West (NEET West) to Build New Estrella Substation

PG&E Becomes Responsible for Connecting the Estrella Substation to the Electric Grid

NEET West and PG&E File Application with California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) CPUC Begins

Environmental Review Process

NEET West and PG&E Solicit Feedback from Community and Develop Project Plans and Alternatives

CPUC Conducts Environmetal/ Technical Analysis and Hosts Public Meetings

CPUC Releases Draft Environmental Document

Public Comment Period (45 Days)

CPUC Releases Final Environmental Document

CPUC Reviews and Announces Proposed Decision

Public Comment Period on Proposed Decision

CPUC Issues Final Decision and Certifies Environmental Documents

START

Role and Responsible Party: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) employees are responsible for safe transmission and delivery of energy

California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is the impartial grid operator charged with ensuring the safe and reliable transportation of electricity on the “electron superhighway” we know as the power grid

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is charged with regulating investor owned utilities in California including PG&E

NextEra Energy Transmission West (NEET West) was selected by the CAISO to build the Estrella Substation

*Competitive project approval process for the Estrella Substation project going through a Permit to Construct (PTC) at the CPUC


Anticipated Project Timeline Increasing electric reliability by 2019*

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Community outreach

Environmental, routing and siting studies (Includes alternative analysis and evaluating potential project impacts)

CPUC application filing

CEQA process (CPUC leads process and ultimately approves project)

Final decision issued by CPUC

Engineering, procurement and construction

Project in service

*An application for the project is scheduled to be submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the state agency responsible for making a final decision on the project, in early 2017.


Routing Criteria Reducing impacts to the environment and local community

•� We are working closely with the local community, government agencies and organizations to identify potential routes with the least overall impact

•� Based on NEET West’s proposed Estrella Substation site options, we are proposing potential routes through Paso Robles and unincorporated San Luis Obispo County for a new 70 kV transmission line that would connect the Estrella Substation to the existing San Miguel-Paso Robles 70 kV transmission line

Potential routes will be identified based on minimizing and/or avoiding:

Conflicts with established land uses

Impacts to valuable crops, such as vineyards and orchards

Sensitive resource areas and areas with high visual sensitivity

Impacts to special-status species and habitats

Costs to our customers

Length of the transmission line

Potential schedule delays

Constructability and engineering conflicts

"PG&E" refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2015 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved. Paso Robles Area Power Connect� pge.com/pasoroblesareapc

Typical Transmission Line Structures�Potential options for project structures

• We are committed to working with the community to minimize impacts while 70 kV providing reliable energy for our future

Potential Transmission Line Structures • Input gathered from the community will help direct the selection of the structures proposed for this project

230 kV Electric Grid Upgrades Near Proposed Substation

Tubular Steel Pole Lattice Tower

Light Duty Steel/Wood Pole Tubular Steel Pole Light Duty Steel/Wood Pole Snow Tower Lattice Tower

Potential options for the proposed transmission line running from the new Estrella Substation to A few additional structures will be built to connect the new Estrella Substation to the existing San Miguel-Paso Robles 70 kV transmission line, as well as the upgrades to the the existing Morro Bay-Gates 230 kV transmission line. San Miguel-Paso Robles transmission line.

Paso Robles Area Power Connect "PG&E" refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2015 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved. pge.com/pasoroblesareapc

Minimizing Environmental Impacts Working closely with the community and environmental experts

• We are committed to identifying routes with the least overall impacts

• Environmental and engineering experts will conduct extensive research and field reviews

• Public input will be collected through stakeholder briefings, meetings and community open houses

• Project will undergo formal environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), providing additional opportunities for public input

Aesthetics

Agricultural resources

Air quality

Biological resources

Cultural resources

Geology and soils

Greenhouse gases

Hazards and hazardous materials

Hydrology and water quality

Land use and planning

Mineral resources

Noise

Population and housing

Public services

Recreation

Transportation and traffic

Utilities and service systems

CEQA requires a comprehensive environmental assessment analyzing a project’s effects and identifying appropriate mitigation in these areas:

"PG&E" refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2015 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved. Paso Robles Area Power Connect pge.com/pasoroblesareapc

*“Unspecified Power” refers to electricity generated that is not traceable to specificgeneration sources by any auditable contract trail.

**These figures are preliminary and will not be finalized until verified by the CaliforniaEnergy Commission.


Eligible Renewable**

28%

18%

10%

22%

22%

Unspecified Power*

Natural Gas

Large Hydroelectric

Nuclear

Wind: 6%Solar: 5%Geothermal: 5%Bioenergy: 4%Small Hydro: 2%


Supporting Clean Energy Goals Helping deliver electricity generated from renewable energy sources

• New electric infrastructure helps facilitate the integration of electricity generated from renewable energy sources and supports our commitment to meeting California’s renewable energy goals

• Upgrades strengthen the electric grid’s ability to deliver renewable energy and handle two-way power flow

• More than half of our electric power comes from carbon-free sources

Eligible Renewable**

28%

18%

10%

22%

22%

Unspecified Power*

Natural Gas

Large Hydroelectric

Nuclear

Wind: 6% Solar: 5% Geothermal: 5% Bioenergy: 4% Small Hydro: 2%

2013 Electric Power Mix

*“Unspecified Power” refers to electricity generated that is not traceable to specific generation sources by any auditable contract trail.

**These figures are preliminary and will not be finalized until verified by the California Energy Commission.
















Phases of Outreach Committed to community engagement

Phase 1 Initial stakeholder outreach and feedback

46

Legend City

Existing Substation

NEET West’s Substation Site Options

Project Study Area

Existing Transmission Lines:

70 kV 230 kV 500 kV

• Identify large geographic area where project could reasonably be located

• Introduce the project, educate community about the process and listen to what matters to them

Phase 2 Route development and feedback

46

Legend City

Existing Substation

NEET West’s Substation Site Options

Project Study Area

Potential Routes

Study Corridors

Existing Transmission Lines:

70 kV 230 kV 500 kV

• Conduct outreach and field reviews to determine opportunities and constraints

• Refine project study area and determine potential routes for the public to provide feedback

• Hold public open houses and meet with community groups to engage community about initial routes and project process

Phase 3 Environmental analysis of potential alternatives and continued outreach

Map to be developed

• Continue gathering community input

• Refine route options even further based on community feedback

• Continue community engagement leading up to regulatory submittal


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