Darcie L. Houck, Commissioner

Commissioner Darcie L. Houck was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) by Governor Gavin Newsom on Feb. 9, 2021. She formerly served as Chief Counsel for the California Energy Commission since 2019.

Commissioner Houck was an Administrative Law Judge at the CPUC from 2016 to 2019, a Partner at Fredericks Peebles & Morgan from 2005 to 2016, and Staff Counsel and Policy Advisor at the California Energy Commission from 2000 to 2005.

Commissioner Houck has expertise in matters concerning environmental equity, nuclear energy regulation, and safety policy. She has an extensive background representing Native American tribes throughout the country on matters involving energy, natural resources, land claims, and water rights, among others.

Commissioner Houck is a member of the California Indian Law Association, California Lawyers Association, Schwartz-Levi Inn of Court, Women Lead and the Association of Women in Water, Energy, and Environment. She earned a law degree from the University of California, where she also earned a Master of Science in community development.

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Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) to Consider Revisions to Tribal Land Transfer Policy (TLTP) Implementation Guidelines

On January 14, 2021, the CPUC approved Resolution E-5076 and the TLTP Implementation Guidelines. Resolution E-5076 ordered that within two years of its approval, the CPUC would consider opening a proceeding to consider revisions to the Implementation Guidelines. The TLTP was developed to provide an opportunity for Native American Tribes to regain lands within their ancestral territory that are currently owned by CPUC jurisdictional utilities. The TLTP establishes the CPUC’s preference for the transfer of real property to Tribes when investor-owned utilities (IOU) plan to dispose of real property within a Tribe’s ancestral territory. The OIR is intended to further efforts by the CPUC, in recognition of and respect for Tribal sovereignty, to prioritize the return of aboriginal lands to their rightful Tribal ownership.

The OIR will also consider the CPUC’s Tribal Consultation Policy and mechanisms to enhance participation by Tribes in the CPUC’s proceedings and programs. The CPUC will conduct outreach and consultation with California Tribes to seek input on the appropriate scope of the proceeding and provide information about the OIR, including how to participate in the proceeding.  

For more information, or to request a consultation with Commissioner Houck, please contact Commissioner Houck’s Chief of Staff, Karin Sung, at Karin.Sung@cpuc.ca.gov and CPUC Tribal Advisor at TribalAdvisor@cpuc.ca.gov.

High Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Future Grid Study

Track 2 of the High DER proceeding focuses on how to ensure DER deployment provides the maximum possible value to the grid through effective distribution system operations. To tackle this, the CPUC and Gridworks jointly hosted the Future Grid Study Workshop Series to foster collaboration and innovation amongst the IOUs. The workshop series consisted of three workshops:

• Workshop 1: Identifying Operational Needs (February 8, 2024)
• Workshop 2: Assessing Gaps (March 12, 2024)
• Workshop 3: Developing Recommendations to Address Gaps (May 1, 2024)

For more information, including presentation materials and workshop recording, please see the High DER website as well as Gridworks’ Future Grid Study website.

Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program

In June 2023, California was awarded $1.86 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding to build infrastructure and expand internet access in rural and historically underserved communities. In April 2024, the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) approved the CPUC’s Initial Proposal (Volume 1) to implement BEAD. In May 2024, the CPUC also adopted Volume 1 of the Initial Proposal, which focuses on the rules for changing determinations regarding whether a broadband serviceable location is served, unserved or underserved, based on whether it meets the definition of reliable broadband service.

The CPUC will host a Challenge Process to accurately identify internet service levels for locations around the state of California. This validation and update of current internet service data is critical to the success of the BEAD Program. For more information on upcoming events and the Challenge Process, please see the BEAD website.

Joint State-Federal Workshop & Consultation – Rights of Way for Utility Infrastructure Development on Tribal Lands

Workshop 1 - On July 9, 2024, the CPUC and the Bureau of Indian Affairs jointly hosted a workshop and consultation in Sacramento on rights of way for utility infrastructure on Tribal lands. The CPUC and the BIA, along with the California Department of Technology and Caltrans, provided presentations on agency processes for rights of way on Tribal lands as well as Tribal consultation requirements. Tribal representatives, including from the Hoopa Valley Tribe, Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, and Morongo Band of Mission Indians, provided presentations on their experiences with utilities building new infrastructure on Tribal lands. The three large electric IOUs as well as AT&T also participated in the workshop. The agencies then met with Tribal representatives for consultation to discuss challenges with permitting and rights of way processes related to utility infrastructure.

• Agenda Joint State Fed ROW Workshop July 9 2024
• ROW Workshop Presentations
• ROW Workshop Recording
• Supplemental Presentation– BEAD Challenge Process – Tribal Governments

Workshop 2 - On November 14, 2024, the CPUC and BIA held a second workshop on rights of way issues for Southern California Tribes at the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians Reservation. The workshop was attended by Tribal representatives from the region, as well as multiple state and federal agencies, energy utilities and telecommunications providers. The workshop followed the same format as Workshop 1, with state and federal agencies presenting on ROW processes. Tribal representatives discussing challenges with ROWs on Tribal lands, and utilities presenting challenges and ongoing improvement efforts.

• Agenda Joint State Fed ROW Workshop November 14, 2024
• ROW Workshop Presentations
• ROW Workshop Recording

Workshop 3 – Northern California, Date and Location TBD, Q1 2025