California Gas Utilities Seek to Drop 5 % Hydrogen Blending Trial Requirement
California Hydrogen Blending Regulation Shift
California gas utilities are urging regulators to drop a requirement that forces companies to demonstrate 5% hydrogen blends before broader blending standards can be approved.
The petition challenges a 2022 decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that ordered utilities to develop demonstration projects for 5% hydrogen blending with natural gas before network-wide injection could proceed.
However, Southern California Gas (SoCalGas), San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southwest Gas Corporation argue the safety case for low-level blends has been “advanced” since the CPUC order. They stressed the petition does not oppose demonstration requirements in the 5–20% blend range.
“Since 2022, a significant body of new research, operational data, and real-world experience has emerged,” the utilities said, adding that utilities globally had already safely demonstrated 5% blends in natural gas systems without appliance modifications.
SoCalGas Vice-President of Gas Engineering and System Integrity, Amy Kitson, said eliminating the 5% demonstration requirement could save ratepayers money and time.
The petition comes amid local opposition to the utilities’ proposed blending pilots in Lodi, Orange Cove, Irvine, San Diego, and Truckee.
Critics have raised concerns about annual tariff increases of between 0.1% and 4% to fund the projects, while environmental groups have criticised the schemes outright.
While positioned as a pragmatic route to cleaning up existing gas use, opponents argue it delivers minimal emissions benefit at high cost. Even at 20% blending, emissions fall only by around 7% due to hydrogen’s lower energy content.
Despite the criticism, the proposal has drawn some support.
Senator Bob Archuleta, in the petition statement, said hydrogen blending was a “forward-looking step” to decarbonise natural gas systems.
UCI Professor, Jack Brouwer, added, “Beginning to evaluate the sustainable transformation of the gas system with clean hydrogen blending is important to meet sustainability and cost goals.”
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