Alice Reynolds has been one of the most influential figures in California energy policy for a decade. Now, she’s leaving the halls of power.
After then-Gov. Jerry Brown brought her on as his senior adviser for climate, energy and the environment in 2017, Gavin Newsom kept her on board when he took office.
In 2021, Newsom appointed Reynolds the president of the California Public Utilities Commission, the agency that oversees California’s electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, rail and passenger transportation companies. At the time, California was coming off of a series of blackouts that had rattled faith in the utility system, making grid stability a priority for Reynolds.
During her tenure, Reynolds has overseen the California energy industry as it grapples with the existential threats to reliability and public safety posed by wildfires, while simultaneously pushing toward the state’s goal of reaching 100 percent renewable electricity sales by 2045. Meanwhile, rising electricity rates have become an increasing source of frustration statewide.
