Secret meetings banned for public utilities regulator

Governor Jerry Brown today (September 29) signed legislation that bans secret meetings between utilities and regulators at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)

In October of last year, Brown vetoed a package of bills that would have blocked hush-hush communications among regulators and utilities.

Mindy Spatt of San Francisco's Utility Reform Network (TURN), sponsor of both bills, says the bill signed today was not quite as strong as last year's vetoed version. Sen. Ben Hueso of San Diego was one of two politicians behind today's bill.

Both Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison have been caught making back-door bills that harmed ratepayers and helped utility stockholders. Legislation signed today closes loopholes permitting secret communications between utilities and the commission.

The legislation bans one-way or "listening mode" communications between utilities and the commission; bans "judge shopping" by utilities; requires commissioners and their advisors to disclose ex parte communications; sets up standards for disqualifying administrative law judges; and permits the attorney general to bring enforcement actions in superior courts.