Pub. Resources Code, § 25216

In addition to other duties specified in this division, the commission shall do all of the following:

(a) Undertake a continuing assessment of trends in the consumption of electrical energy and other forms of energy and analyze the social, economic, and environmental consequences of these trends; carry out directly, or cause to be carried out, energy conservation measures specified in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 25400) of this division; and recommend to the Governor and the Legislature new and expanded energy conservation measures as required to meet the objectives of this division.

(b) Collect from electric utilities, gas utilities, and fuel producers and wholesalers and other sources forecasts of future supplies and consumption of all forms of energy, including electricity, and of future energy or fuel production and transporting facilities to be constructed; independently analyze such forecasts in relation to statewide estimates of population, economic, and other growth factors and in terms of the availability of energy resources, costs to consumers, and other factors; and formally specify statewide and service area electrical energy demands to be utilized as a basis for planning the siting and design of electric power generating and related facilities.

(c) Carry out, or cause to be carried out, under contract or other arrangements, research and development into alternative sources of energy, improvements in energy generation, transmission, and siting, fuel substitution, and other topics related to energy supply, demand, public safety, ecology, and conservation which are of particular statewide importance.