People who Power the Process: Electric General Rate Case Program and Project Supervisor

Every day at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), experts work to deliver on the mandate of ensuring safe and reliable utility service. Balancing electric utility investments in safety and reliability with customer affordability is the primary goal of the electric General Rate Case process.  

As Program and Project Supervisor for the Electric General Rate Case Team at the CPUC, Jason Symonds manages a team that carefully reviews all aspects of utility spending before it enters customer rates. In this Q&A, Jason discusses how he and his team navigate the complex challenges of ensuring costs are kept reasonable without compromising on a utility's ability to make critical investments in the state’s electric grid.  

How would you explain your role at the CPUC?  

I work for the state helping to oversee the costs of building, operating, and maintaining California’s electric grid. In short, I’m an energy nerd. 
  
What does your typical day look like?  

I oversee a team that reviews electric utility General Rate Cases, or GRCs. A typical day includes tracking proceeding milestones, reviewing staff work products, coordinating with decision-makers such as Commissioners and Administrative Law Judges, and helping resolve policy and technical issues that arise during the GRC review process. 

What is your role in the General Rate Case process?  

My team oversees Phase 1 of the GRC process, which evaluates how much funding a utility needs to safely operate and maintain its electric system. As a supervisor, I ensure my team has the resources and support needed to answer key questions: Is the work being proposed by a utility necessary? Are the costs reasonable? Are there lower-cost alternatives? What level of spending best serves customers? 
  
What is your background? What education and experience do you bring to the CPUC?   

I hold bachelor’s degrees in environmental science and political science from the University of Maryland (Go Terps!) and a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University. 

Before joining the CPUC, I spent more than seven years as a consultant evaluating energy efficiency and demand-side management programs for utilities and utility commissions across the country. Since joining the CPUC in 2019, I have served in several roles, including overseeing the CARE income-qualified bill discount program, and spending two years as an advisor to Commissioner Karen Douglas, supporting proceedings ranging from transmission infrastructure to wildfire cost recovery. 

What do you like best about your job?  

Utility regulation is complex, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. Every day involves balancing important and sometimes competing priorities: maintaining safe and reliable energy service, keeping rates as affordable as possible, and supporting California’s climate and clean energy goals. There are rarely simple answers, which is what makes the work both difficult and meaningful. I'm proud to play a role in helping the state navigate these important decisions.

Jason hiking with his wife.