Pilot Program Launched to Help Clear Utility Bills and Regain Financial Stability

By Erol Kilic On February 15, 2024, pursuant to SB 598 (Hueso) (Chapter 362, Statutes of 2017), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a decision on Rulemaking 18-07-005, a pilot program to use community-based organizations (CBOs) to address service Continue reading

Report by CPUC Public Advocates Office Highlights Exorbitant Electricity Rate Increases

By Erol Kilic On October 26, 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Public Advocates Office (PAO) published an Electric Rates Report. The report found the rate increases for California households have dramatically outpaced inflation. The rate increases by Pacific 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

CPUC Acts, Makes California National Trailblazer for Natural Gas Subsidy Elimination

By Shiloh Wallack On September 15, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a press release announcing it was taking action to “eliminate natural gas line subsidies for new natural gas hookups,” stating “[t]he first-in-the-nation action will reduce greenhouse Continue reading

State Auditor Releases Report Finding State Officials are Failing to Hold California’s Electric Utility Companies Accountable for Wildfires

By Justin Dalton On March 24, 2022, the Acting California State Auditor, Michael Tilden, released an audit finding that state officials are failing to hold California utility companies accountable for preventing fires started by those companies’ equipment. The Audit found Continue reading

The California Public Utilities Commission Votes to Approve Decision Revising General Order 156, Supplier Diversity Program, Adopting a Voluntary Procurement Goal for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Enterprises

By Benjamin L. Sheinman On April 7, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted 5–0 to approve D.22-04-035. This decision, proposed by Commissioner Rechtschaffen, revised the Commission’s Supplier Diversity Program, set forth in General Order (GO) 156, to incorporate 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

The CPUC Initiates Rulemaking Proceeding to Review the Tribal Land Transfer Policy Guidelines

By Riley Minkoff On February 10, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued an Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) (R.22-02-002) to consider revisions to the Commission’s Tribal Land Transfer Policy (TLTP) Implementation Guidelines. According to the OIR, the TLTP was Continue reading

Despite Shortfalls, PG&E Exits Criminal Probation and is Awarded Safety Certificate after Meeting Statutory Requirements

By Justin Dalton On January 19, 2022, U.S. District Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California issued his final comments upon the expiration of Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) five-year criminal probation term in the matter of United Continue reading