CPUC Public Meetings During COVID-19 Pandemic
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is providing this guidance on conducting public meetings during the next several weeks while we collectively deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CPUC will continue to maintain public safety, ensure customer protections, perform essential mitigation planning for the upcoming wildfire season, and perform all statutory functions using its full regulatory authority to protect our valued workforce and stakeholders.
Non-Essential Events
Public meeting in the coming weeks that are deemed non-essential to the core functions of the CPUC will be reassessed to comply with COVID-19 health guidelines and directives and the health and safety of staff and stakeholders.
Considerations will include:
- Modifying the meeting to allow for remote participation only such as live streaming, video conferencing, teleconferencing, or other technology forms
- Rescheduling the meeting
- Cancelling the meeting
Essential Events
For formal proceedings, the CPUC holds three types of events that may be deemed essential: Evidentiary Hearings, Prehearing Conferences, and Public Participation Hearings.
The decision to hold these events will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Assigned Commissioner and the assigned Administrative Law Judge and notice will be provided to the service lists of each proceeding.
For formal matters scheduled through April 10, 2020, the events have either been postponed, canceled, or will occur remotely. The service lists for each proceeding will be notified of the approach to the event and any necessary ground rules to promote remote participation.
The CPUC utilizes one of the most thorough decision-making processes in state government and generates well-informed decisions through inclusivity and openness. The CPUC will continue to uphold these standards as it executes the considerations and decisions mentioned above.