California Public Utilities Commission

I am excited to announce that effective yesterday, August 26, 2024, Terra Curtis has been appointed as the Director of the Consumer Protection & Enforcement Division (CPED) at CPUC. In her new role, Terra will work closely with me to set the strategic direction and lead our Commission's transportation policy and enforcement teams, as well as our utilities enforcement team, safeguarding consumers against fraud, waste, and abuse. Since joining the Commission in 2020, Terra has made a significant impact, most recently serving as Interim Director of CPED and Program Manager for the Transportation Licensing and Analysis Branch. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing first-in-the-nation transportation programs, including autonomous vehicle passenger service, on-demand wheelchair accessible options, and the electrification of ride-hailing services. Terra brings a wealth of experience and a passion for transportation safety to this role. Before joining the Commission, she founded and led the emerging mobility practice at Nelson\Nygaard, a national transportation consulting firm. Her forward-thinking approach has been recognized through her participation in Transit Center’s inaugural Women Changing Transportation Program cohort in 2019. Terra also serves on the Board of the California Streets Initiative, advocating for sustainable transportation and livable communities. She holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Boston University. Welcome! and Congratulations!

We recently attended a historic California Department of Technology, Caltrans, and Arcadian Infracom groundbreaking ceremony with the Mayor and Council members in Willits. The 288-count fiber optic cable will connect a trans-Pacific undersea cable landing in Arcata and data centers along San Jose-Sacramento-Reno and Los Angeles-Las Vegas routes, and, most importantly, will support last-mile internet service in California unserved rural communities along the way.

On Friday, August 23, the California Public Utilities Commission attended a historic California Department of Technology, Caltrans, and Arcadian Infracom groundbreaking ceremony with the Mayor and Council members in Willits, California. The 288-count fiber optic cable will connect a trans-Pacific undersea cable landing in Arcata (coming from Singapore) and data centers along San Jose-Sacramento-Reno and Los Angeles-Las Vegas routes, and, most importantly, will support last-mile internet service in California unserved rural communities along the way.

🌟 Exciting news from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)! 🌟 We’re proud to share that the CPUC has been awarded the 2024 Best of California Innovation Serving the Public Award at Government Technology’s California Government Innovation Summit 2024 for our cutting-edge Broadband Grant Portal! This achievement reflects the CPUC’s dedication to ensuring that $2 billion joint, multi-year, federal and state-funded program funds—critical to California’s broadband future—was timely implemented. When Senate Bill 156 tasked us with managing grants for last-mile broadband networks, we rose to the challenge, creating a system that not only met an urgent need but also redefined how the public sector approaches grant management. Highlights of the Broadband Grant Portal: ✅  Swift & Impactful: Developed under tight deadlines, this system safeguarded vital Federal funds, directly contributing to California’s broadband expansion. ✅  Pioneering Innovation: By revolutionizing our processes, the system set a new industry standard for efficiency and effectiveness in public sector grant management. ✅  Broad Social Impact: This system is already making a difference by expanding broadband access to underserved communities, helping to bridge the digital divide. A huge thank you to our exceptional CPUC Broadband Grant Portal project team for their dedication and hard work. Special recognition goes to Maria Isabel Ellis (Restrepo Florez), Deputy Director, Broadband; Lea Haro, PhD, Federal Funding Account Supervisor; Nicholas Bui, Budgets and Fiscal Team Supervisor; Rena Francis, IT Project Manager; Dmitriy Makarov, IT technical SME and Adriana Barajas, IT Contract Administrator. And an incredible multi-disciplinary and cross-functional team of CPUC employees. Your contributions were pivotal in making this success a reality We’re excited to continue our mission to ensure all Californians have access to essential digital resources. 👉Broadband Grant Portal: https://lnkd.in/g97X-9xe 👉 Explore our work : https://lnkd.in/gVU7JG3p #Innovation #Broadband #DigitalEquity #PublicSector #California #CPUC #GovernmentInnovation #DigitalDivide

The CPUC today approved $237 million in third and fourth round grants for last mile broadband projects as part of the $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account Grant Program. Currently, the total amount in grants recommended and awarded is $434 million for projects in 22 counties. Many awardees are creating new networks, connecting the next generation to education, improving access to healthcare, and empowering rural communities for economic development and emergency connectivity. Combined, these proposed projects will serve predominantly disadvantaged and low-income communities across the state. Today’s awardees include $95 million for 10 Last Mile Federal Funding Account broadband infrastructure grant projects in Alpine, Modoc, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Tulare counties. This includes grants to two tribes—the Fort Bidwell Indian Community in Modoc County and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in Santa Barbara County. Awardees also include $142 million for 11 Last Mile Federal Funding Account broadband infrastructure grant projects in Mono, Nevada, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, and San Mateo counties. This includes a grant to the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Job Alert #2! I’m hiring a Senior Data Scientist that will collect, clean, and draw insights from unique data on every ride hail and autonomous vehicle passenger trip in California. Please share with your networks or reach out if you have data science skills and an interest in advancing transportation and electrification policy. Applications accepted through September 3rd.

Come join us to work on some of the most cutting edge transportation policy issues in California! We have an immediate opening for a Senior Transportation Analyst, applications due August 30. Contact Josh Huneycutt for more info. More openings anticipated soon! https://lnkd.in/gWnwWhWA

Please apply and come work with me! The Commission is a great place to do important work on key issues facing Californians such as decarbonization, affordability of utilities, and wildfires. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Congratulations to our Energy Efficiency Branch! Seven CPUC employees were chosen as authors during the The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) conference. The topic was Advancing Equity in California’s Energy Efficiency Landscape. Jessie Levine Ely Jacobsohn Simran Kaur Gillian W. Savannah McLaughlin Leanne Hoadley