A new state energy security report warns that California’s heavy reliance on imported electricity and fuels exposes the state to potential supply disruptions as energy demand grows and infrastructure changes.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) in December 2025 released an updated California Energy Security Plan, evaluating risks across the state’s electricity, natural gas, and transportation fuel systems. The report, presented by staff at the CEC’s February 11 meeting, outlines vulnerabilities in California’s energy supply and establishes planning frameworks for preventing and responding to disruptions.
The analysis highlights the state’s reliance on energy imports as a central risk factor. California imports approximately 30% of its electricity, about 90% of its natural gas, and roughly 75% of its petroleum supply, according to the report. Much of that energy reaches the state through interstate pipelines, high-voltage transmission lines, and marine shipping routes.
State energy planners say that reliance creates exposure to disruptions that could occur far from California itself, including extreme weather events, infrastructure failures, or supply interruptions in other regions.
Electricity imports are particularly significant during periods of peak demand. California is the largest importer of electricity in the United States, relying on transmission connections with neighboring western states to balance supply when demand rises. The report notes that during widespread heat events, neighboring states may also experience elevated electricity demand, reducing the availability of power exports to California.
Natural gas represents another critical dependency. The report states that approximately 90% of the natural gas used by California power plants originates outside the state, even though gas-fired generation provides roughly 45% of in-state electricity capacity. Disruptions to interstate pipelines or upstream supply sources could therefore affect electricity reliability.
The state’s transportation fuel system also depends heavily on outside supply. California imports about three-quarters of the petroleum used to produce gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, exposing the fuel market to disruptions affecting refinery operations, shipping routes, or global energy markets.
At the same time, electricity demand is expected to grow as California expands electrification policies. Increasing adoption of electric vehicles, building electrification initiatives, and energy requirements for water systems are projected to raise electricity consumption while the state retires some older coastal generating plants.
These trends could place additional pressure on the electric grid, particularly during emergencies when system operators rely on imports to maintain reliability. The report notes that the California Independent System Operator must increasingly coordinate with neighboring systems during periods of tight supply.
To mitigate these risks, the plan identifies strategies including expanding renewable energy resources, strengthening infrastructure resilience, improving coordination among state agencies, and enhancing regional electricity market integration.
The plan uses an “all-hazards” planning framework designed to prepare for disruptions caused by natural disasters, technological failures, or human-caused incidents. It also defines the roles and responsibilities of state agencies during various stages of an energy emergency and integrates energy response planning with California’s broader emergency management system.
CEC officials said the California Energy Security Plan will be updated periodically as energy markets evolve and the state continues transitioning its energy system.