How to Participate

The CalNEXT team will evaluate public submissions once a quarter. If the project submission is a good fit for the program, you will be paired with a program partner to help you prepare the submission for evaluation. In the following month, complete submissions will be evaluated. All projects will be evaluated against the same review criteria. Then approximately six to eight weeks after the submission deadline, the CalNEXT team will let you know if your project has been selected.

The Q2 submission deadline is April 23, 2026. Q2 submitters will be informed about scoring results by May 19, 2026.

The CalNEXT team held a project webinar on September 23, 2025 to review 2026 program changes and answer any questions. View the webinar recording here and presentation slides here.

The CalNEXT team is accountable for implementing projects. If a submitted project is approved, the submitter will be paired with one of the program partner organizations for support. This support may range from general program support to direct implementation support.

Q2 2026 Submission Deadline: April 23, 2026

Project scoring process will take place from April 30 through May 8, 2026

Submitters will receive notification by May 19, 2026

Q3 2026 Submission Deadline: July 23, 2026

Project scoring process will take place from July 30 through August 7, 2026

Submitters will receive notification by August 18, 2026

Q4 2026 Submission Deadline: October 22, 2026

Project scoring process will take place from October 29 through November 6, 2026

Submitters will receive notification by November 18, 2026

Be a Part of California’s Electric Future

Submit an Idea

A CalNEXT Idea is a research concept that is not yet ready for implementation.

Submit a Project

A CalNEXT Project is a research project that has been fully vetted and is ready for implementation if selected by the program. This means there is a research project scope, justification for the project, and a plan for how to deliver the project.

Submit an Idea

For project concepts that are not fully defined:

(Tip: Download this PDF of form questions to prepare your answers before using the online form, as your answers may not be saved if you leave the session and come back to it later.)

The CalNEXT team will review your idea and, if it is a good candidate for the program, will be in touch to discuss how to turn your idea into a project. When you’re ready, you can resubmit your idea as a project. Follow up will come from [email protected]. Please check your spam if you do not see a response within 3 weeks.

Submit a Project

For research projects that are ready to implement:

(Tip: Download this PDF of form questions to prepare your answers before using the online form, as your answers may not be saved if you leave the session and come back to it later. Need an example? Look at this Example Project Submission to get an idea of what type of information the CalNEXT team needs to fairly evaluate your submission.)

After the listed submission deadline, the CalNEXT team will contact you about your project submission. Follow up will come from [email protected]. Please check your spam if you do not see a response within 3 weeks. Please see the Participant Expectations Guide, for a full description and approximate timeline for a CalNEXT Project.

If your project submission is complete and aligned with the program it will be evaluated against our Review Criteria by the evaluation committee. If your project is selected by the evaluation committee, you will be asked to begin work on your Project Plan which, when approved by SCE, will be the basis of your contract.

If your project is not selected it may be ‘deferred’ or ‘discontinued’ – a project may be deferred because the CalNEXT team thinks this project may be a good fit for the program later. This does not mean your project submission has been discontinued. CalNEXT will reach back out to you when your project is revisited or if the status of your project changes.

If  your project is ‘discontinued’, the evaluators have not selected your project to move forward with the CalNEXT Program. The reasons for this vary. The Program Administration Team will notify the submitter why their project was discontinued.