Vision

To be a resource to, and work collaboratively with, the California Public Utilities Commission and the regulated utilities to promote and facilitate California's rich diversity by using population demographic data (2010 Census) as a guide to enhance the quality of the utilities diversity focused on governance, procurement and banking, employment, customer service, marketing and philanthropy. 

Goals

1. To provide leadership and be a visible and active organization working with and advising the California Public Utilities Commission and the regulated utilities, and other entities such as Governor's Office, the State Legislature, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions, White House, and Congress on diversity issues related to public utilities.

2. To review, assess, and provide feedback on CPUC, utility and legislative proposals to ensure that the impact on diversity is addressed.

3.  To facilitate and promote outreach to the diverse business and consumer communities whose development is important to the economic well-being of California.

4.  To prepare and distribute an annual report highlighting the accomplishments of the California Utilities Diversity Council.

5.  To assist the CPUC with its annual public hearing on diversity (En Banc) and invite business, labor, government and community leaders to educate and inform the CPUC and utilities on utility progress on diversity and provide relevant statistics on procurement, employment, customer service, marketing and philanthropy.

Diversity Benchmark: Defined by the 2010 U.S. Census of California

The California Department of Finance
 

Governor Brown Appoints First Hispanic to the 100 year-old California Public Utilities Commission

The first Latina Rhodes Scholar has also become the first Hispanic to serve as commissioner of the powerful California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

If confirmed by the State Senate, Sandoval's term on the CPUC will expire in 2007.

Sandoval, who was born and raised in a humble neighborhood of Los Angeles, received a top education.  She received her law degree from Stanford Law School, a Master of Letters in political science from Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar and a B. A. from Yale.

Prior to coming to the CPUC, she worked as an associate professor at Santa Clara University School of Law and before that she served as undersecretary and senior policy advisor for housing with the Business Transportation and Housing Agency.

She also served as vice president and general counsel for Z-Spanish Media Corporation and was director of the Office of Communications Business Opportunities for the Federal Communications Commission.

While living in Sacramento, Sandoval was also active with the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

During her Senate confirmation hearing Sandoval was given a standing ovation for her outstanding qualifications and excellent preparation for her duty of the CPUC and for being the first Hispanic appointee to the commission. 

Commissioner Catherine J.K. Sandoval