At the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), community participation is central to shaping policies that affect disadvantaged and low-income Californians. Two advisory groups, the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group (DACAG) and the Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB), provide input to ensure utility services are accessible, affordable, and equitable.
The DACAG was established under Senate Bill 350 in 2015 and is managed by both the CPUC and the California Energy Commission (CEC). Its members include representatives from community-based organizations and advocacy groups serving environmental justice and tribal communities. The group advises on clean energy policies with a focus on affordability, pollution reduction, and access to advanced technologies. It also works to ensure that investments in areas such as energy efficiency and transportation electrification benefit all communities, especially those most affected by climate change.
“DACAG guidance is an immense resource for the CPUC in terms of advancing our energy justice work. Members are able to bring community concerns from across the State directly to decision-makers, uplifting marginalized voices and providing crucial input to help shape clean energy programs and policy,” said Zara Jamshed, CPUC Regulatory Analyst and liaison to the DACAG.
Recent discussions within DACAG have addressed topics like the state’s Equity and Access Roadmap, clean transportation initiatives, and distributed energy resource programs. These efforts aim to support California’s climate goals while ensuring inclusivity.
DACAG participants include new Tribal Representative Councilman Michael Vasquez of the Pechanga Band of Indians; CPUC Commissioners Darcie L. Houck and Karen Douglas; CEC Commissioner Noemi Gallardo; Pi-Ta Pitt, Tribal Utility General Manager for Pechanga Western Electric; as well as staff from both commissions.
The LIOB was created in 2001 by legislative action to advise on program design for low-income Californians regarding affordable energy, water, and telecommunications services. The board includes representatives from community organizations, utilities, and state agencies. Its responsibilities include providing feedback on programs such as California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA), which offer bill discounts for eligible customers. The LIOB also oversees efforts like the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA), which provides free energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified households.
“The Low-Income Oversight Board keeps health, comfort, and safety at the center of its conversations. Its guidance helps make sure that low-income programs don’t just reduce energy use and costs on a bill but actually improve day-to-day living conditions for the households we serve,” said Jen Gordon, CPUC Low Income Oversight Board (LIOB) Liaison.
Both advisory groups aim to reduce pollution in frontline communities, expand clean energy benefits, strengthen protections for vulnerable residents, streamline assistance programs across regions, improve outreach—including multilingual resources—and foster collaboration with state agencies.
By engaging directly with impacted communities through these advisory bodies, the CPUC seeks to implement more effective policies that promote a safe, reliable utility system accessible to all Californians.
