Bills aim to reform utilities agency

Legislation aimed at reforming the California Public Utilities Commission keeps winning support in the state Capitol, although some critics say the proposals don’t go far enough.

One bill that made its way through the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce early this week would remove the commission president’s sole authority to direct agency staff, making that a shared commission responsibility.

Senate Bill 660 also makes it easier to disqualify a commissioner or agency judge from a case. Under the current standard, a petitioner would have to prove the regulator has an “unalterably closed mind” on the subject. The new standard would be an “appearance of bias.”

Read More ›