California Public Utilities CommissionGovernment

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is a state regulatory agency that oversees privately owned public utilities throughout California, including electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, and passenger transportation companies. Its mandate is to ensure that Californians have safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at reasonable rates while advancing state environmental goals. Originally established by constitutional amendment in 1911 as the Railroad Commission to curb railroad monopolies, it was expanded by the Public Utilities Act of 1912 and renamed to its current title in 1946.