Utility Tariff Analysis · Updated October 2026

PG&E's Electric Rule 30 for Transmission-Level Service: What It Means for AI Data Center Siting in California

September 18, 2026 6 min read Strategic Crypto Reserve Data Center Infrastructure

New data centers and large loads seeking transmission-level interconnection can connect through Electric Rule 30, California's first standardized transmission-level interconnection tariff, interim-approved by the CPUC on July 24, 2025. Applicants who agree to fund necessary transmission infrastructure upfront can benefit from accelerated grid connections rather than a slower case-by-case review, shaving months off the permitting process.

California at a glance: industrial power about 20.5¢/kWh (EIA-based, indexed to April 2026) · grid queue about 48 months · data center equipment tax exemption: none. Indicative figures from the SCR AI Build Configurator v1.4.0.

PG&E Rule 30 in brief. Who qualifies: new PG&E retail customers, mainly data centers, that need service at transmission voltage (roughly 50 kV to 230 kV) instead of from the distribution grid. What it costs: no fixed fee; under the interim rule the customer pays up front for the transmission work needed to serve it, up to 100% of specific network upgrades, and how much is refunded later is still open. Status (October 2026): interim rule in force since July 2025; final CPUC decision in Application 24-11-007 still pending.

The Tariff Explained Model a California Build Free
California AI data center power map: PG&E's Electric Rule 30 for Transmission-Level Service large-load tariff

PG&E's Electric Rule 30 for Transmission-Level Service

CA

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

A2411007

Regulatory docket / filing reference

New data centers and large loads seeking transmission-level interconnection

Who the tariff applies to

New data centers and large loads seeking transmission-level interconnection can connect through Electric Rule 30, California's first standardized transmission-level interconnection tariff, interim-approved by the CPUC on July 24, 2025. Applicants who agree to fund necessary transmission infrastructure upfront can benefit from accelerated grid connections rather than a slower case-by-case review, shaving months off the permitting process.

Also active in California: PG&E's data center demand pipeline has grown to roughly 10 GW, with 1.4 GW already in final design for 2026-2030 delivery, and PG&E estimates every 1,000 MW of new data center demand can reduce customers' monthly bills by 1-2 percent by spreading fixed grid costs over more usage. Microsoft is building a 77 MW San Jose data center with onsite natural gas generators for backup and demand response.

California at a glance: large-load tariff threshold, docket and who it applies to

Named Projects Already Underway

CustomerLocationDetails
MicrosoftSan Jose, CA77 MW data center including onsite natural gas generators for backup power and demand response
PrologisSan Jose, CA400 MW data center campus and manufacturing facility, part of a group of San Jose data center projects

Figures compiled from the Edison Electric Institute's "Large Load Projects and Tariffs" (September 2026) member-company summary and public regulatory filings, including CPUC Application 24-11-007 and coverage by Law of Renewable Energy (January 2026). Confirm current tariff terms directly with Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the relevant state public utility commission before relying on any figure for a capital decision.

Weighing California against another state or a Canadian province with a different rate and interconnection picture entirely? Run both sides of the comparison through our licensed AI data center cost configurator — it applies each jurisdiction's actual power rate, tax treatment and large-load tariff rules to the same seven build configurations.

Named data center projects underway in California Named Projects Already Underway: PG&E's Electric Rule 30 for Transmission-Level Service: What It Means for AI Data Center Siting in California

Model This State on Your Own Site

Every figure above comes from the same power-cost and tariff dataset behind the SCR AI Build Configurator — a licensed, embeddable widget that models seven data center build configurations against all nine Canadian provinces and all 50 US states plus DC, returning capital expenditure by line item, energy cost, revenue by commercial structure, EBITDA and payback.

LicencePrice (CAD)Who it suits
Standard$4,000 / domain / yearAdvisors who need three lease-model configurations and a clipboard summary
Pro$10,000 / domain / yearConsultants who send CSV deliverables to clients and want all seven configurations
EnterpriseFrom $25,000 / year, up to 3 domainsDevelopers and EPC firms who want the model on their own cost basis with attribution removed

Not ready for an annual licence? A one-time Site Screening Report ($950, one site) runs the same model for a single build without embedding anything.

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Model a California data center build in the SCR AI Build Configurator: CapEx, power cost, EBITDA and payback Model This State on Your Own Site: PG&E's Electric Rule 30 for Transmission-Level Service: What It Means for AI Data Center Siting in California

Compare California With Nearby States

Large-load rules change sharply at state lines. See how the neighbouring utilities handle data center and high-density loads before you shortlist a site.

Oregon

PGE large-load class
Nevada

NV Energy Clean Transition Tariff
Arizona

APS XHLF tariff
Washington

Washington 2027 mandate
All 50 State Tariffs Data Center Cost Calculator AI Build Configurations

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for PG&E Rule 30?

New retail customers in PG&E territory that need electric service at transmission voltage, roughly 50 kV to 230 kV, rather than from the distribution grid. In practice that means large data centers and other very large loads.

How much does PG&E Rule 30 cost a data center?

There is no fixed fee. Under the interim rule approved on July 24, 2025, the customer pays up front for the transmission facilities and upgrades needed to serve it, prefunding up to 100% of specific network upgrades, so the cost depends on the site. How much is refunded later is still open: in two earlier data center cases (STACK and Microsoft) the CPUC capped annual refunds at 75% of net revenues over 15 years, but said those cases do not set the rule for Rule 30. The SCR AI Build Configurator includes utility works in its cost per MW for every state.

Has the CPUC made a final decision on PG&E Rule 30?

Not yet. The interim rule has applied since July 2025. In May 2026 PG&E, Cal Advocates, CalCCA and Sierra Club asked the CPUC to approve a partial settlement on reporting and information sharing, while cost allocation and refunds remain open in Application 24-11-007. Check the CPUC docket before committing capital.

What is PG&E's Electric Rule 30 for Transmission-Level Service?

New data centers and large loads seeking transmission-level interconnection can connect through Electric Rule 30, California's first standardized transmission-level interconnection tariff, interim-approved by the CPUC on July 24, 2025. Applicants who agree to fund necessary transmission infrastructure upfront can benefit from accelerated grid connections rather than a slower case-by-case review, shaving months off the permitting process.

Why did Pacific Gas and Electric Company introduce this large-load structure?

To ensure the cost of new generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure built to serve very large customers, chiefly hyperscale data centers, is paid for by those customers rather than spread across the general rate base of residential and small commercial ratepayers.

What large data center projects are already active in California?

PG&E's data center demand pipeline has grown to roughly 10 GW, with 1.4 GW already in final design for 2026-2030 delivery, and PG&E estimates every 1,000 MW of new data center demand can reduce customers' monthly bills by 1-2 percent by spreading fixed grid costs over more usage. Microsoft is building a 77 MW San Jose data center with onsite natural gas generators for backup and demand response.

Does this tariff replace California's standard commercial and industrial rates?

No. PG&E's Electric Rule 30 for Transmission-Level Service sits above Pacific Gas and Electric Company's standard commercial and industrial rate schedules and applies specifically to customers that meet or exceed the large-load threshold described above. Smaller commercial and industrial loads continue to be billed under existing rate schedules.

How can I model a California data center build against this tariff and other states?

The SCR AI Build Configurator applies California's power cost, tax treatment and large-load tariff rules alongside all other US states and Canadian provinces, so a California scenario can be compared line-by-line against any alternative site.