Public Utilities Commission: Independent Office of Audits and Investigations.

Assembly Member Boerner's proposal to restructure oversight at the California Public Utilities Commission would replace the agency's internal audit unit with an Independent Office of Audits and Investigations led by a Governor-appointed Inspector General. The new office, set to launch January 1, 2026, would assume responsibility for examining the commission's financial management, operational efficiency, and use of ratepayer funds.

The Inspector General would serve a six-year term following Senate confirmation and could only be removed for cause, with written justification required. The position would have broad authority to access and review all commission records, documents, and correspondence, as well as materials from regulated utilities and other entities under commission oversight. The office would conduct audits and investigations during regular business hours, with agency staff required to facilitate document examination and reproduction upon request.

To maintain independence, the Inspector General must report audit findings and recommendations directly to the Governor and Legislature on an ongoing basis, with annual public summaries posted online. These reports would detail significant issues discovered through audits and investigations, along with whether previous recommendations have been implemented by the commission or affected external entities. The bill specifies that violations of commission actions implementing these requirements would constitute a crime under the Public Utilities Act.