CPUC

State legislators call for drastic overhaul of California’s utility regulatorLos Angeles TimesOur concern is that the CPUC is too big to succeed.” The proposal by Gatto, chairman of the Assembly’s utilities committee, would give the Legislature two years to divvy up the functions of the commission among other agencies, which Gatto said would …Lawmaker seeks … Read more

California Public Utilities Commission’s Successor Net Metering Decision and Trends in Rate-MakingThe National Law ReviewOn January 28, 2016, by a 3-2 vote, the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) agreed to extend California’s net metering program. The CPUC’s decision rejected proposals by three of the state’s major utilities (Pacific Gas &Electric Co., San …California Public Utilities … Read more

CPUC reform bills are passing againThe San Diego Union-TribuneLawmakers are pushing ahead with efforts to reform the California Public Utilities Commission after Gov. Jerry Brown’s veto last year of a spate of similar bills. The state Senate this week passed a bill to ban private, or ex parte, communications … …read more From:: CPUC News … Read more

Solar Industry Commends California PUC for Maintaining Net MeteringStreetInsider.comThe Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) commended the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which today voted 3-2 to continue net metering in California. “By voting to continue net metering in California, the CPUC is driving a stake in … …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News … Read more

Charter pledges to make Internet affordable to the poor as merger gets debatedLos Angeles TimesThe California Public Utilities Commission must approve the transfer of communications licenses now held by Time Warner Cable and Bright House before Charter can complete its transaction. The PUC expects to reach a decision by June, but Charter has … …read … Read more

PUC plans a hearing on Charter’s purchase of Time Warner Cable and Bright HouseLos Angeles TimesCalifornia Public Utilities Commission officials plan a public hearing on Charter Communications’ proposed $67-billion acquisition of two cable companies, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, which serve Southern California. The PUC hearing is …and more …read more From:: CPUC … Read more

California Focus: PUC’s Darling retires, but her damage continues onSonoma Index-TribuneHere’s the bottom line on the significant but under-publicized retirement of Melanie M. Darling, the California Public Utilities Commission judge who fined a huge utility $16 million late last year for not reporting secret contacts with PUC officials …and more …read more From:: CPUC News … Read more

California IOUs Pitch a New Net Metering Proposal to the CPUCThe National Law ReviewIn response to a California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Decision on net metering, three California investor-owned utilities have proposed a new structure to compensate rooftop solar customers for the power they generate. The proposal, which … …read more From:: CPUC News By … Read more

SoCal Gas officials grilled during Porter Ranch gas leak hearingKABC-TVOfficials with the Southern California Gas Company and California Public Utilities Commission answer questions at a hearing in Granada Hills on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. KABC. By ABC7.com staff. Thursday, January 21, 2016 10:53PM. GRANADA HILLS …Lawmakers, Porter Ranch residents challenge state regulators to step up … Read more

Utilities lobby for changes to rooftop solar decisionThe Desert SunFor months, Southern California Edison and other utilities lobbied the California Public Utilities Commission to slash the rates at which solar customers are paid for the electricity they generate, and to approve new monthly charges. Commission …Expanding solar rate program right choice for energy futureThe San … Read more

CPUC begins hearings on Carmel explosion and five other PG&E pipeline accidentsKRON4.comSAN FRANCISCO (BCN) — As the California Public Utilities Commission began a new round of hearings in San Francisco today into PG&E’s pipeline record-keeping, Carmel Mayor Jason Burnett called for sweeping reforms and possibly a break-up of the …Carmel mayor: Break up PG&E and … Read more

Ranchos sale finalizedVictorville Daily PressThe finalized sale followed the California Public Utilities Commission conditional approval of the sale in late December, and it includes Ranchos’ now former owner Park Water Co. and Mountain Water Co. in Missoula, Montana. But Apple Valley Town … …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News Zennie AbrahamZennie Abraham | … Read more

Public Utilities Commission fines Uber $7.6 millionCentral Valley Business JournalUber faces a $7.6 million fine after the California Public Utilities Commission agreed Thursday with a judge that the ride-sharing company failed to meet data reporting requirements in 2014. Uber says it will appeal the decision, but has agreed to pay …Uber fined $7.6M by California … Read more

State regulators approve electric vehicle charging station pilot programLos Angeles Times“This decision takes bold action in support of transportation electrification, while simultaneously preserving competition and exercising prudence on behalf of ratepayers,” said California Public Utilities Commissioner Carla J. Peterman, who oversaw …SCE Receives CPUC Approval for ‘Charge Ready’ Pilot Program; Will Install As …Business Wire … Read more

Uber may face $7.6 million fine from the California Public Utilities CommissionLos Angeles TimesUber’s fate in California will be decided Thursday when the California Public Utilities Commission votes on whether the ride-hailing company will be suspended and fined $7.6 million for failing to meet data reporting requirements in 2014. Last July, an …Uber to pay … Read more

Utility commission probes continue despite retirementNapa Valley RegisterHere’s the bottom line on the significant but under-publicized retirement of Melanie M. Darling, the California Public Utilities Commission judge who fined a huge utility $16 million late last year for not reporting secret contacts with PUC officials …and more …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News … Read more

One California PUC embarrassment gone, but probes continue: Thomas EliasLA Daily NewsHere’s the bottom line on the significant but under-publicized retirement of Melanie M. Darling, the California Public Utilities Commission judge who fined a huge utility $16 million late last year for not reporting secret contacts with PUC officials …and more …read more From:: CPUC … Read more

CASSIE MacDUFF: Case of the disappearing commentsPress-EnterpriseIn a shocking display of incompetence, written comments that were submitted on a controversial gas pipeline project at three public meetings from Hesperia to Moreno Valley have been lost. The California Public Utilities Commission acknowledged Friday … …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News Zennie AbrahamZennie Abraham | … Read more

Gas leak will cost SoCal Gas billions, experts sayThe San Diego Union-TribuneLoretta Lynch, a lawyer and former president of the California Public Utilities Commission, said SoCal Gas ultimately will have to respond to two sets of issues: the company’s responsibility as a regulated utility under California law and its liability …State of emergency declared over … Read more

Claims in Porter Ranch gas leak could cost utility billions of dollarsLos Angeles TimesLoretta Lynch, a lawyer and former president of the California Public Utilities Commission, said the gas company ultimately will have to respond to two sets of issues: its responsibility as a regulated utility under California law and its liability for …California Finally … Read more

CPUC ousts administrative law judgeSan Diego Reader#In a very brief statement on January 5, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) took administrative law judge Melanie Darling off the ongoing hearings into how the decommissioning of the San Onofre nuclear plant should be handled. #As it … …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News Zennie … Read more

CPUC approves Liberty’s acquisition of Park WaterVictorville Daily PressAPPLE VALLEY — The California Public Utilities Commission has conditionally approved the sale of Western Water Holdings LLC to Liberty Utilities, according to documents released by the CPUC. The decision, which came last week, adopted the proposed … …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News Zennie … Read more

State looking at criminal charges against former CPUC president over San …OCRegisterSAN FRANCISCO – State Attorney General Kamala Harris’ office is considering criminal charges against Michael Peevey, former president of the California Public Utilities Commission, for his private meeting with a Southern California Edison Co. executive …PUC needs a clean break with Peevey eraThe San … Read more

PUC’s Michael Picker on San Onofre, San Bruno and California’s energy outlookLos Angeles TimesThe closing of the plant resulted in a settlement agreement that is costing consumers about $3.3 billion. After Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him president of the PUC on Dec. 23, 2014, Picker promised reforms, not only of the commission but of utility … Read more

State looking at criminal charges against former CPUC presidentSFGateState Attorney General Kamala Harris’ office is considering criminal charges against Michael Peevey, former president of the California Public Utilities Commission, for his private meeting with a Southern California Edison Co. executive about financial …and more …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News Zennie AbrahamZennie Abraham … Read more

Criminal probe focuses on San Onofre responseThe San Diego Union-TribuneA state criminal investigation into the California Public Utilities Commission centers around former President Michael Peevey’s persistent intervention into the process to assign costs for the failure of the San Onofre nuclear plant, newly released … …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News Zennie AbrahamZennie … Read more

Proposed CPUC decision protects homeowners with solarIdyllwild Town CierCalifornia homeowners who install solar photovoltaic will receive financial credit based on a California Public Utilities Commission decision last week. The proposed decision continues the current policy of paying homeowners for generating solar energy … …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News Zennie AbrahamZennie Abraham | … Read more

SF judge skeptical of CPUC privilege claimThe San Diego Union-TribuneJudge Ernest Goldsmith stopped short of ordering the California Public Utilities Commission to release dozens of emails to and from the Governor’s Office pertaining to a 2014 deal to charge customers more than $3 billion for the premature closure of … …read more From:: CPUC News … Read more

Consumer group upset at CPUC snubThe San Diego Union-TribuneA dispute is turning testy between a Santa Monica nonprofit and the California Public Utilities Commission over intervenor compensation — the money paid to advocates for expert testimony and other evidence that contributes to regulatory decisions. …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News Zennie AbrahamZennie Abraham … Read more

Critics Say Gov. Brown Isn’t Delivering on Reform at Troubled CPUCKQEDLast December, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed a longtime adviser, Michael Picker, to head the California Public Utilities Commission. The CPUC oversees privately owned electric, gas and transportation companies and has been under fire for a series of … …read more From:: CPUC News By Google … Read more

Renewable energy rate-battle is CPUC’s chance to prove it’s not in PG&E’s pocketSan Francisco ExaminerThe California Public Utilities Commission is set to approve a set of rate calculations from Pacific Gas & Electric, Co. Buried in dense regulator-ese is a provision to adopt what’s called the “Power Change Indifference Amount.” In plain English, it’s … … Read more

California PUC descends into comic opera: Thomas EliasLA Daily NewsFor many years, California’s powerful Public Utilities Commission has conducted Kabuki-style dances with the multi-billion-dollar corporations it regulates. But the latest significant commission decision amounts to a descent into comic opera. When the …and more …read more From:: CPUC News By Google News Zennie AbrahamZennie Abraham … Read more

The CPUC needs to scrutinize PG&E’s exit feeSan Francisco ChronicleConsidering the fact that the CPUC has historically been incredibly deferential to PG&E’s concerns, Leno’s idea is worth considering. Electricity customers deserve choices, and local clean energy programs deserve the opportunity to compete on a level …Critics bash PG&E for plan to raise fee on green … Read more

Fitch Rates San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, CA’s Bank Notes ‘AA …Business Wire (press release)The bank bond rating is assigned to the series A-1 notes but will only become applicable if the notes are purchased by the bank providing the liquidity facility. The rating is based on the underlying long-term rating of the power system. … Read more

Public Utilities Commission invokes antiquated law to evade public accessSacramento BeeThe California Public Utilities Commission is acting as if it were 1912, a simpler time, before email was invented, the Public Records Act became law, and before some ratepayers got saddled with a $3.3 billion bill. The commission, created by a …Editorial: State agency should … Read more