At the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), two advisory bodies—the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group (DACAG) and the Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB)—play an important role in shaping policies and programs for disadvantaged and low-income communities.
The DACAG was established by Senate Bill 350 in 2015 and is managed jointly by the CPUC and the California Energy Commission (CEC). Its members represent community-based organizations and advocacy groups serving environmental social justice and tribal communities. The group advises on clean energy policies, focusing on affordability, pollution reduction, access to advanced technologies, and ensuring that clean energy investments benefit all communities.
“DACAG guidance is an immense resource for the CPUC in terms of advancing our energy justice work. Members are able to bring community concerns from across the State directly to decision-makers, uplifting marginalized voices and providing crucial input to help shape clean energy programs and policy,” said Zara Jamshed, CPUC Regulatory Analyst and liaison to the DACAG.
Recent DACAG discussions have addressed topics such as the state’s Equity and Access Roadmap, clean transportation initiatives, and distributed energy resource programs. These efforts aim to help meet California’s climate goals while ensuring no community is left behind.
Participants in recent DACAG meetings include new Tribal Representative Councilman Michael Vasquez of the Pechanga Band of Indians; CPUC Commissioners Darcie L. Houck and Karen Douglas; CEC Commissioner Noemi Gallardo; staff from both commissions; and Pi-Ta Pitt, Tribal Utility General Manager for Pechanga Western Electric.
The Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB), created in 2001 by legislative action, advises the CPUC on program design for affordable energy, water, and telecommunications services targeted at low-income Californians. The board includes representatives from community organizations, utilities, and state agencies to ensure that these programs remain responsive to household needs.
The LIOB provides input on initiatives like the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program—which offers bill discounts—and oversees efforts such as the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA), which delivers free energy efficiency upgrades to qualifying households. The board also works on improving outreach through multilingual resources and partnerships with local groups.
“The Low-Income Oversight Board keeps health, comfort, and safety at the center of its conversations. Its guidance helps make sure that low-income programs don’t just reduce energy use and costs on a bill but actually improve day-to-day living conditions for the households we serve,” said Jen Gordon, CPUC Low Income Oversight Board (LIOB) Liaison.
Both advisory groups support the CPUC’s goal of making California’s transition to clean energy fairer by reducing pollution burdens in frontline communities, expanding benefits of clean energy policies, strengthening protections for vulnerable populations, and helping streamline assistance across regions.
By working directly with affected communities through these groups, the CPUC aims to create a more equitable utility system throughout California.
