CPUC Names New Executive Director
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today announced it has appointed Rachel Peterson as its Executive Director.
“The year 2020 showed how critical the CPUC’s mission and work is to ensuring the well-being of Californians who rely on the essential services the CPUC oversees,” said CPUC President Marybel Batjer. “Rachel has been a tremendous asset to the CPUC since she first joined the agency and has contributed greatly this past year. I am confident her expertise and commitment to the CPUC’s core values will help us continue our work to protect customers. My fellow Commissioners and I welcome Rachel to this leadership role.”
Executive Director Peterson was most recently the CPUC’s Acting Executive Director. She has worked at the CPUC since 2011 in several leadership positions, including Chief of Staff and Advisor to Commissioners, Acting Director of the Safety Policy Division, and Deputy Executive Director for Safety Enforcement and Policy. She has experience in numerous areas of the CPUC’s utility regulation, including electricity, natural gas, safety, and transportation, and has led initiatives to bring greater transparency to the CPUC’s processes. She is an attorney and former nonprofit executive director. Her appointment is effective today.
“Being named the Executive Director of an agency with the vital responsibilities of the CPUC is an incredible professional privilege,” said Executive Director Peterson. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Commissioners and dedicated staff of the CPUC as we all strive to serve Californians well and ensure access to safe, clean, and affordable utility services and infrastructure.”
The duties of the CPUC’s Executive Director are detailed in the CPUC’s Strategic Plan. They include overseeing the direct operations of the CPUC and expediting all matters within the CPUC’s jurisdiction. The CPUC’s Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the Commissioners.
The CPUC regulates services and utilities, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians’ access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
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