California Public Utilities Commission

The CPUC regulates privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies, in addition to authorizing video franchises. Our five Governor-appointed Commissioners, as well as our staff, are dedicated to ensuring that consumers have safe, reliable utility service at reasonable rates, protecting against fraud, and promoting the health of California's economy. 

Mission :

The California Public Utilities Commission serves the public interest by protecting consumers and ensuring the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at just and reasonable rates, with a commitment to environmental enhancement and a healthy California economy. We regulate utility services, stimulate innovation, and promote competitive markets, where possible, in the communications, energy, transportation, and water industries.

Vision :

The California Public Utilities Commission betters the lives of all Californians through our recognized leadership in innovative communications, energy, transportation, and water policies and regulation.

Values :

This statement is intended to capture the values of the Commission and to remind us all to conduct ourselves in ways that makes us worthy of trust and respect. The values do not supersede or replace the policies and laws to which each employee is subject, nor do they alter any Memorandum of Understanding. To the extent that there is a conflict, the memorandum of understanding, policy, or law will govern.

These core values describe the culture of integrity and excellence we strive for at the CPUC. The CPUC’s success depends on our individual and organizational commitment to these core values, to our fellow employees, and to the public interest. The values apply to all CPUC employees, volunteers, and commissioners.

Accountability: Operating with transparency and accepting responsibility for our actions.

We hold ourselves accountable when we:

• Take ownership and get the job done, showing leadership and courage.
•  Provide transparency to enable public scrutiny.
• Admit our mistakes and learn from them.
• Evaluate project processes and outcomes to identify areas for improvement.
• Meet commitments by engaging the necessary resources and working collaboratively with other groups.

Excellence: Striving to achieve exceptional performance by consistently delivering quality work in a timely manner.

We strive for excellence when we:

• Take pride in our work and continually seek to improve and welcome new challenges.
• Produce well-reasoned, evidence-based decisions, resolutions, and other work products.
•  Work with initiative and creativity across programs and divisions to achieve agency objectives.
•  Contribute to providing an open, fair, timely, and inclusive process.

Integrity: Behaving in an open, honest, trustworthy manner, both professionally and personally.

We act with integrity when we:

• Conduct our work objectively and place the public interest above personal interest.
•  Behave professionally, displaying good character and high ethical principles.
• Treat everyone with courtesy and dignity, build relationships based on trust, and respect others’ time.

Open Communication: Exchanging information, thoughts and concerns in an open, timely manner.

We communicate effectively when we:

• Listen to, and communicate with, others with an open mind, caring attitude, and respectful tone.
•  Solicit input from those with relevant expertise before making decisions.
•  Acknowledge limitations and request assistance when necessary.
• Respond to internal and external stakeholders with relevant and timely information.

Stewardship: Serving as responsible caretakers of the human, financial, information, and natural resources entrusted to us.

We engage in responsible stewardship when we:

• Act with a commitment to the health and safety of Californians and the preservation of the natural environment.
• Design and implement public policies that promote California’s environmental sustainability goals.
• Allocate resources to high-priority objectives that deliver real value to Californians.
• Seek and employ contributions from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

This statement is intended to capture the values of the Commission and to remind us all to conduct ourselves in ways that makes us worthy of trust and respect. The values do not supersede or replace the policies and laws to which each employee is subject, nor do they alter any Memorandum of Understanding. To the extent that there is a conflict, the memorandum of understanding, policy, or law will govern.