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

California Public Utilities Commission Issues Proposed Decision Revising Net Energy Metering Tariffs and Subtariffs – Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0

By Benjamin L. Sheinman On December 13, 2021, Administrative Law Judge Kelley Hymes issued a proposed decision (PD) “Revising Net Energy Metering Tariff and Subtariffs” in the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) ongoing rulemaking proceeding to revisit net energy metering 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 Issues Proposal that Would Approve an Uber Sexual Harassment Reporting Agreement and $9 Million for Its Required Safety Initiatives

By Riley Minkoff On October 29, 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued proposed rulemaking decision R.12-12-011, a proposal that would approve a settlement agreement with Uber on the reporting of data on sexual harassment and assault.  The agreement 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 Orders California Utility Companies to Implement PIPP Pilot Programs

By Justin Dalton On October 7, 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued D. 21-10-012 to R.18-07-005, an Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) to Consider New Approaches to Disconnections and Reconnections to Improve Energy Access and Contain Costs.  The order Continue reading

California Public Utilities Commission Votes to Approve Resolution Establishing New Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Rules

By Benjamin L. Sheinman At its meeting on October 7, 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously voted to approve Resolution E-5167.  This resolution established new rules to account for utility-side distribution costs associated with EV charging deployment.  The Continue reading

California Public Utilities Commission Votes to Approve Review of Solar Consumer Assistance Fund

By Benjamin L. Sheinman On May 19, 2021, Commissioner Guzman Aceves issued a proposed decision to establish a solar consumer assistance fund for Net Energy Metering customers.  This proposal was in response to a broader policy goal of “ensuring that Continue reading

SB 28 (Caballero), Authorizing CPUC to Set and Enforce Customer Service Requirements for Cable Franchise Holders, Signed by Governor

By Andrew D. Kent SB 28 (Caballero), as amended August 30, 2021, adds section 5895 to the Public Utilities Code, expanding the authority of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to collect data to enforce requirements for cable franchises.  Included Continue reading