Carla J. Peterman is a Commissioner at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). She was appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in December 2012.
Commissioner Peterman is the assigned Commissioner to a number of energy, communications, and water proceedings including energy efficiency, alternative transportation, energy storage, and PCIA reform.
The Commissioner's key interest areas include decarbonization policy, energy markets, and technology adoption. She has led several CPUC clean-energy initiatives including the adoption of the nation's first utility energy storage mandate, the first framework for energy storage multi-use applications, approval of $965 million of utility investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, adoption of utility energy efficiency goals and business plans, and the implementation of California's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS). Commissioner Peterman has also been the assigned Commissioner for rate cases for Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, California-American Water Company, and San Jose Water Company.
She has also led several telecommunications proceedings, including a competition analysis of the telecommunications sector, and reform of the California Teleconnect Fund.
Commissioner Peterman was previously appointed by Governor Brown, in 2011, to the California Energy Commission (CEC) where she was lead Commissioner for renewables, transportation, natural gas, and the 2012 Integrated Energy Policy Report. At the CEC, Commissioner Peterman oversaw the implementation of California's RPS regulations for publicly owned utilities, the New Solar Home Partnership Program, and the $100 million annual Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program.
She is the first African-American female to be appointed to both Commissions.
Commissioner Peterman serves on various policy boards including the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), NARUC's Investment Committee, NARUC's Energy Resources and Environment Committee (Vice-Chair), and Veloz. She was previously chair of the California Plug-in Electric Vehicle Collaborative, and a board member of The Utility Reform Network (TURN).
She has also received several recognitions for her public service, including KJLH Proven Achievers Award (2018), C3E Government Award (2015), Clean Energy Storage Alliance's 2015 Policy Champion award; Coalition for Clean Air's 2014 Clean Air Champion award, and the California Legislative Black Caucus' Horizon Award (2013).
Earlier in her career, from 2006 to 2011, Commissioner Peterman conducted energy policy research at the University of California Energy Institute and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She also served as an environmental business analyst at the community redevelopment non-profit Isles Inc., and an associate focused on energy financing in the investment banking division at Lehman Brothers.
Born and raised in Newark and South Orange, New Jersey, Commissioner Peterman holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Energy and Resources from the University of California, Berkeley.
She also earned a Master of Science degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. Commissioner Peterman holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Howard University, where she graduated summa cum laude. Commissioner Peterman resides in the Bay Area and enjoys reading and family time with her husband and son.
