Senate Rules Committee confirms PUC Commissioner Matt Baker after hearing on rates, wildfire costs and battery safety

The California Senate Rules Committee voted 5‑0 to advance Matt Baker for continued service on the California Public Utilities Commission after a confirmation hearing in which senators questioned him about utility affordability, wildfire mitigation costs, battery storage safety and other regulatory priorities.

Baker, a one‑time public advocate and deputy natural‑resources official, told the committee his priorities are “reliable, safe, accessible service, that is affordable to all,” and he said affordability would be his top priority on the commission. He outlined steps he said the commission should take to control costs, including examining whether ratepayers are funding programs that no longer deliver value and looking for lower‑cost ways to perform required work.

Why it matters: The PUC regulates investor‑owned utilities and infrastructure decisions that affect rates, grid reliability and safety. Senators focused on the causes of recent rate increases, wildfire‑related costs now carried on ratepayers’ bills, and the regulatory response to recent battery‑storage incidents.

Committee members asked about several near‑term and structural…