Energy Division Recruiting
About the CPUC Energy Division
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulates privately owned utilities -- Our commissioners and staff are dedicated to ensuring that Californians have safe, reliable utility service at reasonable rates, protecting against fraud and promoting the health of California’s economy. (See About the CPUC) Within the CPUC, the Energy Division support the commission’s regulation of investor-owned utilities in the energy sector – including electric, natural gas, steam and petroleum pipeline companies.
Energy Division develops and administers energy policy and programs to serve the public interest, advises the Commissioners, and ensures compliance with the Commission decisions and statutory mandates. With approximately 300 staff of analysts, engineers, and administrative personnel, the Energy Division team provides objective and expert analyses that promote reliable, safe, and environmentally sound energy services at lowest reasonable rates for the people of California. We support Commissioners, advisors, and Administrative Law Judges by reviewing utility filings, conducting research, and preparing resolutions for consideration by the Commission.
Examples of Key Energy Division Program and Policy Areas
- Energy Division staff oversee California’s nation-leading efforts related to clean energy – including renewable energy, storage, energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, and demand response.
- Through General Rate Cases and other ratemaking proceedings, our staff review all utility proposals related to capital investments and grid operations, as well as proposals related to customer rates known as tariffs.
- Our staff oversee policies related to customer programs such as energization and income-qualified programs and rate structures, including rate discount programs, bill payment assistance program, weatherization, and energy retrofit programs.
- Energy Division staff administer programs related to ensuring grid reliability, including resource adequacy, integrated resource planning for generation and transmission planning, distribution grid planning and modernization, interconnection of new resources, as well as microgrids and resiliency.
- California ratepayers are represented by Energy Division staff in proceedings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), in particular related to transmission ratemaking, transmission planning, wholesale market design, and federal reliability standards.
- Through gas proceedings, our natural gas teams focus on gas infrastructure investments, gas safety, and natural gas ratemaking.
- Energy Division’s building and vehicle electrification teams support decarbonization of the building and transportation sectors.
- Our division supports the entire Commission’s environmental permitting work as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in particular for transmission and broadband permitting.
- The Energy Division implement a number of climate initiatives, including work related to research and development programs, the California Climate Credit, and climate resiliency.
Every part of this work contributes to California’s statewide goals: building a reliable, affordable, and carbon‑free electric grid while supporting community resilience and equitable access to clean energy.
To learn more about Energy Division’s work, please visit our CPUC Annual Reports page, which highlights major accomplishments and ongoing initiatives.
Our Work and Our People
To support the Energy Division’s legal mandates, we hire professionals with backgrounds in Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Finance, Political Science, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Law, and Business. We hire professionals with various levels of education and experience (BAs, MPAs, MBAs, and PhDs). These professionals fill various levels of Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst (PURA) and Utilities Engineer job classifications.
Come join us! We are setting the pace in California’s efforts to develop an electric grid powered by low cost, carbon-free electricity. Our development of these resources makes clean electricity accessible to all Californians. Electrifying California’s economy and building a reliable, safe, affordable, and clean electric grid of the future are cornerstones of both our climate leadership and economic plan for the future.
Before you are selected to become one of our professionals, you will compete in an open and competitive civil service examination process, which will establish eligibility for your targeted employment classification.
Current Job Openings
Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst II
Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst III
Telework
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.
Employment Eligibility
Please note: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) does not participate in the federal E-Verify program. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must also reside in the state of California. The CPUC may consider certain forms of employment sponsorship, including some visa types, on a case-by-case basis in accordance with agency policies and applicable regulations.
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 to Apply
The State hiring process has two separate steps. Applicants must complete both to be considered:
Step 1: Take the Examination (List Eligibility)
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.
Step 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 actually 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.
To search and apply for jobs click here and to take exams click here.
See the overall process here: Seven Steps to Permanent Employment - click here | How to get a state job
-
Verification of Education and Experience:
- Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job posting. Please review the Minimum Requirements section (below) for additional information and prior to submitting your application. Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience during the recruitment and selection process.
- All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application (STD 678) by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification, or may lead to lower scores.
- Please be sure to include complete information, including the years and months of service, in the STD 678 form that will demonstrate your meeting minimum qualifications (i.e. to show number of years of progressively responsible technical research experience in a related field) for the Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst classification series. Same guidance to Utility Engineers (UE minimum qualifications) and Senior Utility Engineers (SUE minimum qualifications). Failure to do so may result in not qualifying for the minimum qualifications for the advertised classification.
- DO NOT rely on uploaded resume document(s) or your prior completion of exam(s) for the classification series to show your experience as adequate to meet minimum qualifications.
- Other Resources:
- Current CPUC Exams
- Apply for a Job information (ca.gov)
- How to write a Statement of Qualifications SOQ
- State of California Employee Benefits
- Federal Public Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
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
Calling all Federal Workers📢
Want to transition to state service? CalHR’s new Work for California website has all the tools to help you get started! The site 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.
Energy Division Open House Sessions
Interested in learning how to begin a career with the California Public Utilities Commission’s Energy Division? Join one of our upcoming Open House Sessions 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.
Our upcoming Open House Sessions will be held on:
- Thursday, September 17th - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST
- Thursday, October 15th - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST
- Thursday, November 12th - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST
- Thursday, December 17th - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST
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 would prefer to attend. We will then email you an invitation with a link to the preferred session.
📆 Check out our other Energy Division events here.
Internships
Energy Division would love to attract graduate and undergraduate students who are vetted, and passionate about climate change, public policy, and energy efficiency initiatives! Internships give students the excellent opportunity to work at the intersection of sustainability and innovation.
Learn more about our internships and view our open projects here.
Recruitment Resources
For more information regarding jobs in Energy Division, please email EnergyDivisionRecruiting@cpuc.ca.gov or call 415-703-1543 with any questions.