Newsom shuns Southern California in public utilities commission appointments

The California Public Utilities Commission, which makes crucial decisions about utilities affecting Southern Californians, currently lacks any members from the region. Recently proposed electric rate hikes following the Eaton fire have sparked debate, as California's governor appointed all five commissioners, who reside in northern areas. Critics argue that this absence of representation compromises the commission's effectiveness in serving the diverse population, especially as decisions tend to favor utility companies despite protests. Officials defend the appointments based on qualifications but sidestep the representation issue.

"We need to rethink whether five people from the Bay Area should be making decisions for Southern Californians whose lives are directly impacted by those decisions."

"Many people dispute that contention, citing among other factors the commission's repeated decisions in recent months to approve requests from Edison and other utilities despite protests from Southern Californians."

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