California Public Utilities Commission Wildfire Safety and Enforcement Branch Adopts New Tool to Protect Public

By Erol Kilic On September 21, 2023, the Wildfire Safety and Enforcement Branch (WSEB) of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted a new enforcement tool to further protect the public from violations of Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) guidelines.  Continue reading

California Public Utilities Commission Announces First Market Transformation Administrator

By Shiloh Wallack On January 31, 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced its first-ever Market Transformation Administrator (CalMTA). This new position is part of the CPUC’s ongoing efforts to advance clean energy, promote energy efficiency, and support innovation Continue reading

CPUC’s Recent Grants to Local Governments Help Bridge the Digital Divide

By Shiloh Wallack On October 21, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) stated they had made their largest funding award to 28 local governments in the amount of $14 million in grants. These grants are to help with broadband Continue reading

California Public Utilities Commission Issues First Autonomous Vehicle Drivered Deployment Permits

By Andrew D. Kent On February 28, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced the issuance of Drivered Deployment permits to Cruise LLC (Cruise) and Waymo LLC (Waymo) to allow for passenger service in autonomous vehicles (AVs). The Drivered Continue reading

California Public Utilities Commission Institutes a Formal Investigation of Uber and Certain Uber Black Sub-carriers (I.21-12-001)

By Andrew D. Kent On December 10, 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) initiated investigation I.21-12-001 instituting a formal investigation of Uber and certain Uber Black Sub-carriers operating on the Uber Black Platform in violation of the Public Utilities Continue reading

Governor Newsom Appoints New President and New Commissioner of CPUC

By Riley Minkoff On November 22, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the President of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Marybel Batjer would be retiring effective December 31, 2021 and that he was appointing Senior Advisor to the Governor Continue reading

California Public Utilities Commission Votes to Approve Decision Setting the Interim Range of Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Maximum Storage Capacity at Up to 41.16 Billion Cubic Feet

By Benjamin L. Sheinman On November 4, 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted 4-0 to approve D.21-11-008.  President Batjer was absent from the meeting.  This decision, proposed by Commissioner Guzman Aceves, set the interim storage capacity at the Continue reading

California Public Utilities Commission Proposal Requires Consumer Protection Measures for Verizon’s Acquisition of TracFone

By Andrew D. Kent On October 15, 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced the issuance of proposed decision A.20-11-001. This decision, if adopted, would approve Verizon Communications’ acquisition of TracFone Wireless, with certain conditions for consumer protection. The Continue reading

CPUC Implements Six Steps for the Monitoring of PG&E

By Justin Dalton On August 5, 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted Resolution M-4855 to set the selection process, scope of work, and schedule for an Independent Safety Monitor that will complement the CPUC’s oversight of PG&E. PG&E Continue reading