Energy Division Recruiting
View information on how to apply and get selected for jobs and internships in the CPUC energy division
Working in the Energy Division
We have approximately 300 staff members made of analysts, engineers, and administrative personnel who work together to promote reliable, safe, and environmentally sound energy services, at the lowest reasonable rates for the people of California.
- Tip: Attend Energy Division career fairs and open houses to meet our team, explore our work, and understand the civil service hiring process.
- These sessions are a great opportunity to ask questions, learn about the Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst (PURA) and Utilities Engineer classifications, and get guidance on how to prepare for the hiring process.
- If you are interested in attending one of our Open House sessions, please contact Energy Division Recruiting at EnergyDivisionRecruiting@cpuc.ca.gov and let us know which session you want to attend to receive an invitation link.
To support the Energy Division’s legal mandates, we hire professionals with diverse backgrounds in
- Public Policy
- Public Administration
- Economics
- Finance
- Political Science
- Engineering
- Environmental Studies
- Law
- Business
- and more..
We also consider various levels of education and experience
- BAs
- MPAs
- MBAs
- and PhDs
Our EEO Statement
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
How does it work?
The California Public Utilities Commission's Energy Division hosts graduate and undergraduate interns during the summer and school year.
- Internships take up to 20 hours per week when school is in session, and up to 40 hours per week during summer.
- Under the guidance of senior analysts and engineers, interns will be given the opportunity to lead a small project or initiative relating to emerging energy issues in California.
- In addition, all interns will be encouraged to learn about diverse policy issues and to participate broadly in Energy Division activities by attending Commission events, meetings, workshops.
View internship experiences
- Executive Director Leuwam began her journey in the CPUC 15 years ago as an intern. Read more about it here: The Leadership Journey of Leuwam Tesfai to Executive Director of the CPUC
- View how internships in the Commission are like: CPUC Internships Open the Door to Careers in Public Service
- Visit the University Enterprises Institute platform and type "public utilities commission" in the keywords box to search for any open internship positions.
- Applicants are encouraged to apply for multiple positions, if available.
- Submissions will be evaluated on a rolling basis until each position is filled
- View the California State Civil Service Employee Benefits Summary to view our wide range of benefits, from retirement plans to health, dental, vision coverage, and more depending on your bargaining unit
- Explore the State of California Employee Benefits site
- We also encourage you to learn more about the Federal Public Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
Want to transition to state service?
- CalHR’s new Work for California website houses a variety of resources such as career consultation, benefits information, hiring events and more.
- Take the next step and learn how you can continue your meaningful career with the state of California.
CPUC operates a hybrid workplace model
- The selected candidate will be required to report to their assigned headquarter office a minimum of two (2) days a week.
- Hybrid positions may be eligible for telework under California Government Code Section 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California.
- In accordance with CPUC Telework Policy, telework arrangements are subject to change and may be reevaluated at any time.
- Occasional travel will be required based on the needs of the Division.
Each application is reviewed to confirm you meet the minimum qualifications in the job posting.
Please review the Minimum Requirements section before applying. You may be asked to provide verification of qualifying education and experience during the process.
Classification Minimum Requirements
- Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst: (PURA I, II, III, IV, V)
- Utilities Engineer Staff: (UE, SUE, SUE Specialist)
- Management Staff: Supervisor I, Supervisor II, Program Project Supervisor (PPS), Program Manager (PM), Career Executive Assignment (CEA)
- Administrative and Support Staff: Office Assistant (General), Analyst I, Analyst II
Verifying your Experience and Qualifications
- All qualifying work experience, education, training, and other relevant details must be listed in your STD 678 by the filing deadline.
- Include complete information including years and months of service, in your STD 678, to clearly demonstrate how you meet minimum qualifications (e.g., years of progressively responsible technical research experience for PURA classifications). The same applies to Utility Engineers (UE) and Senior Utility Engineers (SUE).
- Information submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
- Incorrect or incomplete applications may result in ineligibility, disqualification, or lower scores.
- Missing details may result in not meeting the minimum qualifications.
- Do not rely on uploaded resumes or previous exam results to demonstrate your experience; only the information in your STD 678 will be evaluated.
Hiring Process
Requirement 1: List Eligibility (Take the Examination)
Before you can apply for a job, you must take and pass the examination for the classification to become list eligible.
- The exam is submitted online and looks like an application, but it is only used to determine eligibility.
- Passing the exam places you on an eligibility list.
- You must be on this list before you can apply for a Job Control.
- Upon taking the exam, you will receive confirmation titled: "CalCareer Exam Application Submission Confirmation – EX – XXXX."
- Afterwards, continue your application for the Job Control in Step 2.
Requirement 2: Apply to the Job Control/Bulletin
After you gain list eligibility, you must then submit a separate application (STD 678) to the Job Control (JC) you are interested in.
- The JC is the official job posting.
- Applying to the JC is what puts you in consideration for the hiring process.
- Upon taking the exam, you will receive confirmation titled: CalCareer Application Submission Confirmation – JC – XXXXXX
- You will also receive confirmation in your CalCareers account under Job Applications > Submitted.
Take Action
Want to learn more?
Contact Information
Regarding jobs in Energy Division, please email: EnergyDivisionRecruiting@cpuc.ca.gov.
Regarding internships, please email: EDinterns@cpuc.ca.gov