PUC's not the panel it used to be

PUC’s not the panel it used to be

By Marc Lifsher

July 8, 2013 12 AM PT

SACRAMENTO — The political clout of Michael Peevey, president of the California Public Utilities Commission, could be waning.

This year, Peevey and the commission he has led since 2002 have been the target of legislative inquiries for the way it regulates for-profit electric, natural gas and telephone companies, limousine services and private water companies.

Lawmakers are up in arms about perceived sloppy budgeting, alleged conflicts of interest and proposed punishment for Pacific Gas & Electric Co., whose safety procedures have been under scrutiny after the 2010 fatal natural gas explosion in San Bruno.

Peevey, 75, of LaCanada Flintridge, is even having trouble with his own commission members, all appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown. He was named to the PUC by Gov. Gray Davis and reappointed by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The disagreement flared at a June 27 meeting over taking a position on a bill in the Legislature.

All but Peevey argued that it would largely eliminate the PUC’s authority to oversee the state’s LifeLine program providing subsidized phone service to the poor.

Peevey wanted to support the bill, AB 1407, by Assemblyman Steven Bradford (D-Gardena). A Senate committee is set to hear the measure Monday.

For his part, Peevey reminded his colleagues they have a “somewhat rocky relationship with the Legislature.”

He warned commissioners not to “needlessly further antagonize ... significant people in Sacramento.”

Peevey, former president of Southern California Edison Co., is well-connected in Sacramento -- starting with his wife, Democratic state Sen. Carol Liu. His PUC term runs through the end of next year.

Separate vacations

The two houses of the California Legislature can’t even agree on when to take vacations.

The Assembly recessed for a month July 3, leaving the Senate to work by itself in the Capitol Building during record 100-degree-plus weather. The Senate doesn’t plan to leave Sacramento until Friday. The Assembly comes back Aug. 5; the Senate won’t return until Aug. 12.

The Assembly said its plan would give policy committees more time to act. The Senate said it needed to stick around a little longer so its Appropriations Committee could deal with a slew of bills coming from the Assembly.

But, said Senate spokesman Rhys Williams, “at the end of the day, we get to the same place at the same time: the end of session,” Sept. 13.

Pet purchases

Want to pick up a puppy, kitty or turtle at the swap meet? Better hurry.

A bill to ban such purchases and could be law by Jan. 1.

AB 339 by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) would prohibit pet sales unless local governments set standards for animal safety and consumer protection. It has no registered opposition.

Said Dickinson, “Animals are being sold at flea markets and swap meets in often abysmal condition.”

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Twitter: @marclifsher