Grueneich?s Confirmation Moves to Senate Floor

CPUC member Dian Grueneich was confirmed on a 4-0 vote by the Senate Rules Committee May 11, despite questioning as to why she opposed measures that would make the California Public Utilities Commission more publicly accountable. Grueneich?s confirmation was backed by a broad spectrum of players in the energy industry?from large industry and business organizations to environmental and consumer advocates. Senator Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey) asked her, ?Do you think there should be a lower [accountability] standard for the CPUC? than the California Energy Commission?s conflict-of-interest standard? Grueneich said she opposed the more stringent conflict-of-interest rules because she feared that a violation could result in a felony conviction. Bowen told her that was an erroneous conclusion, adding, ?That leaves me concerned about how the commission gets its information.? The senator also wanted to know Grueneich?s rationale for opposing legislation by Senator Martha Escutia (D-Whittier) that would require proposed alternate decisions to have a 30-day public comment period, instead of the current truncated 10-day process. Grueneich said extending the review process would slow down the commission?s decision making, but she did acknowledge that many alternates have become the final decisions in major cases. She said she is aiming to address that problem with a proposal that would have the entire commission hear important cases at the outset of the process rather than at the end. Senator Jim Battin (R-La Quinta) questioned her opposition to nuclear power, noting her former representation of Mothers for Peace, who object to Pacific Gas & Electric?s request to collect $700 million from ratepayers to replace steam generators at its Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. ?I did not advocate its shutdown but argued that the CPUC needed to take a more in-depth look at the cost benefits of what the proposed project was,? Grueneich said. She added that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, not the CPUC, is the agency that rules on nuclear safety issues. Expounding on her support for reviving customers? ability to access electricity outside the confines of utility service, Grueneich told the four committee members that if the Legislature enacted a well-tailored direct-access law, competition would result in investor-owned utility ratepayers reaping lower-cost and higher-quality services. For her, a commissioner?s most important duty is to ?protect those less able to be represented before the commission.? Grueneich touted the fact that she is a Democrat appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The full Senate must approve her confirmation, which could occur as early as May 16. ?There is little doubt that she?ll be approved,? said Randy Chinn, chief consultant for the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

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Grueneich?s Confirmation Moves to Senate Floor

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