A second round of California Public Utilities Committee reorganisation was approved in the final hours of the legislative session on Friday night. Senate bills 19 and 385 are heading to the governor’s desk. The main one is SB 19, carried by senator Jerry Hill (D – San Mateo), who has been deeply involved in CPUC reform efforts ever since a massive, fatal explosion of a PG&E pipeline in San Bruno in 2010.
There are general changes that affect the way the commission does business overall. Area code assignments aside, none specifically relate to the way telecommunication services or companies are regulated.
SB 19 expands the commission’s audit responsibilities, and a legislative staff analysis makes it clear that the broadband-focused California Emerging Technology Fund is a primary target…
The CPUC has often negotiated settlements, particularly related to mergers of companies, which create new entities or programs. For example, the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) was developed and funded as a separate nonprofit entity by the CPUC through the approved mergers between SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI. Last year, [former assemblyman Mike Gatto] requested an audit of the CETF. However, the CPUC had suggested that they lack the statutory authority to conduct an audit of CETF and other similarly constructed entities.
This bill will ensure the CPUC has the statutory authority to conduct such audits and require the audits are conducted in a manner that adheres to approved general auditing practices.
Other changes include banning public utility executives from becoming CPUC commissioners for “two years after leaving the employment of the utility”. Commissioners would directly appoint the chief administrative law judge and a chief internal auditor. The job of staff ethics officer would be baked into law and the public advisor’s office would be responsible for handling complaints about the way the commission does business.
Some of the CPUC’s transportation-related duties would be transferred to other state departments, including regulation of moving companies, private buses, and some water transportation and passenger aircraft. The changes seem to be consistent with governor Brown’s wishes and it’s a good bet he’ll approve both bills.