Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced a new president of the California Public Utilities Commission, initiating a major shakeup at the powerful regulator that oversees the state’s electric, natural gas, transit and telecommunication utilities.
What happened: Newsom’s (D) office said that John Reynolds, who has served as a CPUC commissioner since 2022, will take over as president, replacing Alice Reynolds, who is stepping down this month ahead of her term ending in January 2027.
Newsom is appointing Christine Harada, the current California Government Operations Agency undersecretary, to the commission, replacing the seat that Alice Reynolds will vacate.
He said John Reynolds will build on Newsom’s agenda to deliver 100 percent clean electricity by 2045, lower utility bills, modernize the electricity delivery system and mitigate the impacts of catastrophic wildfires.
