CPUC Internships Open the Door to Careers in Public Service
This summer, more than 40 students from graduate school, college, and high school worked alongside CPUC staff across Divisions. Interns experienced what it’s like to work at the CPUC by shadowing and learning from staff and spending time with Commissioners and Executive Leadership.
Interns got the chance to learn about CPUC leadership career paths and how internships can lead to full-time employment. During a recent Brown Bag Lunch, CPUC Executive Director Leuwam Tesfai shared her story of attending the University of San Francisco School of Law and how she balanced her studies while interning at the CPUC. Mentors offered encouragement to Executive Director Tesfai during those formative years and helped carve her path at the CPUC, leading to a fulfilling career.
“There are so many opportunities at the CPUC in many different areas. I’ve held jobs at different levels and Divisions and always found the work intellectually inspiring and mission-driven. The CPUC facilitates taking your core skills and offering a variety of different opportunities,” said Executive Director Tesfai.
Executive Director Tesfai met with some of the CPUC’s summer 2026 interns during a brown bag lunch at the San Francisco office.
In addition to interning at the CPUC, Executive Director Tesfai subsequently held staff roles and also served as Chief of Staff for former Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma and Advisor for former Commissioner Liane M. Randolph. She then led the CPUC’s Energy Division as Deputy Executive Director for Energy and Climate Policy for four years, playing an important role in clean energy policy and initiatives, which she continues to prioritize as Executive Director today.
“Our internship program is special. As a former intern myself, I found it to be an amazing experience at the CPUC. When I started as an intern, I took a notebook wherever I went and said yes to every opportunity,” Executive Director Tesfai said.
Interns attend CPUC Voting Meetings to gain first-hand knowledge about the utility regulatory process, while hearing about important energy, water, communication, and transportation issues taking place in the state.
The real-world experience, coupled with guidance, feedback, and career advice, can be a catalyst for intern growth, as some prepare for a journey to law school and others narrow in on a particular field of study, such as public policy and sustainable energy.
CPUC summer 2026 interns pose with Commissioners after being introduced at a Voting Meeting.
In the CPUC’s Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Division, interns worked on important issues ranging from telecommunication mergers and acquisitions to water use and artificial intelligence, as well as energy policies that impact climate change, such as demand response and distributed energy resources. Interns helped draft Rulings and Decisions, conducted research, and attended hearings and meetings.
“In the ALJ Division, the focus is not only exposing interns to the basics of utility law and the CPUC’s authority, but also ensuring that students end their internship with a writing sample and contacts who can help them launch their careers,” explained ALJ Brandon Gerstle, who along with Assistant Chief ALJ Robyn Purchia, oversees the ALJ intern program.
In the CPUC’s Energy Division, interns are immersed in climate initiatives and building decarbonization. Students’ fields of study include computer science, engineering, public policy, environmental science, and sustainable energy, while internship assignments range from analyzing utility transmission projects to researching power efficient design.
“Our internship programs give students a unique opportunity to engage in substantive analytical work that shapes California’s clean energy and climate policies. Interns work side-by-side with CPUC staff, receiving mentorship and exposure to real regulatory processes that classrooms can’t replicate,” said Delia Drake, an Energy Division Supervisor and internship program lead. “These experiences often spark long-term interest in public service and open doors to careers in energy, environmental analysis, and state policy. The value of these programs is clear in both the contributions interns make today and the professional pathways they build for the future.”
For more information about the CPUC’s internship program, please contact CPUCRecruiter@cpuc.ca.gov.
For information on CPUC careers, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/careers.
By Andrea Marvin, Public Information Officer