Custom Initiative: Statewide Solutions for Custom Measure and Project Development
The California Technical Forum (Cal TF) launched the Custom Initiative in 2022 to address persistent challenges to which custom stakeholders attribute the dwindling of custom project activity and savings. Extensive stakeholder feedback and Cal TF Staff analysis identified critical challenges inhibiting custom program success, including:
Unclear, out-of-date, dispersed, unavailable, and inconsistent requirements and guidance
Extensive, time-consuming, and duplicative documentation requirements
Lengthy, costly, and uncertain project review timelines
Multiple and inconsistent influence and attribution assessments (even for a single project)
Custom Initiative Solutions
Through the Custom Subcommittee, Technical Forum (TF), Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), measure working groups and ad hoc meetings, Cal TF Staff and custom stakeholders developed a package of work products to support custom measure and project development and review. These statewide custom tools and resources to support statewide consistency, transparency, certainty, and cost-efficiency.
Click the links in the table below for more information and access to each custom resource. All resources are hosted on the Cal TF Custom Initiative SharePoint Site (email caltf@futee.biz for access to the Custom Initiative SharePoint site).
| Work Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Custom Rulebook + Workbook | All rules and processes governing custom measures in a single, clear, accessible, organized, up-to-date document; companion workbook shows consolidated table of rules, Rulebook Revision Log, and list of retired rules. |
| Custom Reference Library | Public library of all references in the Custom Rulebook organized by type, author, date, and status. Includes: CPUC Guidance Memos, Custom Templates, Early Opinion Library and Early Opinion Log. |
| Custom Measure Guidance | Measure-specific guidance on eligibility, technical methods, data requirements, and tools to support measure development and review for common custom measures. The Custom Measure Library hosts nine TF-Affirmed CMGs. |
| Tool Library | Public library of tools that stakeholders can use for custom measure development. Includes tools associated with TF-Affirmed CMGs and Tool Summaries that provide quick-reference information on each tool. |
| Baseline Library | Complete, organized, and accessible repository of baseline studies that custom stakeholders can use to develop and review custom measures. |
| Custom Communications | Mailing list for statewide, accessible, and timely notifications of key information, documents, and other updates relevant to custom measures/projects. |
Cal TF Custom Subcommittee
Custom Initiative activities are conducted through the Custom Subcommittee and Measure Working Groups, with draft work products brought to the Technical Forum for review and affirmation. The Custom Subcommittee meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month and hosts resources and working documents on the Cal TF Custom Initiative SharePoint Site. Email caltf@futee.biz to join the Custom Subcommittee and/or to access the Custom Initiative SharePoint site.
Custom Subcommittee Meeting Materials
Additional Background Materials
Cal TF Technical Position Paper No. 13 (2024), affirmed by the Cal TF PAC on March 27, 2024, describes the background, recommendations, and next steps for the Cal TF Custom Initiative.
Contact caltf@futee.biz for more information.