The Latest: Senate panel narrowly backs utility regulators

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on confirmation hearings for two appointees to a powerful California commission that regulates utilities (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

A Senate panel has given narrow approval to Gov. Jerry Brown’s two newest appointees to a powerful commission regulating California’s natural gas, water, electric and transportation utilities.

Commissioners Clifford Rechtschaffen and Martha Guzman Aceves are heading to the Senate floor with a 3-0 recommendation from the five-member Senate Rules Committee. Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon says he took a pass on voting because he still has questions about how the appointees will restore public trust in the agency.

Both have been serving six-year terms since January on Brown’s appointment but have a year to be confirmed.

The PUC has been badly damaged in recent years over revelations of improper communications between its members and utility executives, as well as by several environmental disasters including a massive methane gas leak and a pipeline explosion.

Senators say the PUC must work to restore public trust and a stronger focus on safety.

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4:30 p.m.

A Senate panel is pressing two members of a powerful California commission that regulates utilities on what they’ll do to restore public trust in an agency that’s been badly damaged by scandals and environmental disasters including a massive 2015 methane gas leak.

Commissioners Clifford Rechtschaffen and Martha Guzman Aceves are up before the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday for confirmation hearings. They’ve served on the commission since January by Gov. Jerry Brown’s appointment.

The PUC regulates natural gas, electric, water and transportation utilities and has long been criticized for being too cozy with the companies it regulates.

Both say the commission is now disclosing more about private communications with utilities and other parties and is putting a greater focus on public safety. They say the PUC is now holding more meetings around the state to be more accessible to the public.

Republican Sen. Tom Berryhill is also urging both to disclose all of their communications with Brown about PUC business. Both are former top aides to the governor.

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6 a.m.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s most recent nominees to a powerful commission regulating utilities are up for confirmation hearings.

Commissioners Clifford Rechtschaffen and Martha Guzman Aceves will go before the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday to discuss their qualifications to serve on the five-member Public Utilities Commission. It regulates privately-owned natural gas, electric, telecommunications, water and rail utilities and has been criticized for its cozy relationship with the utilities it regulates.

Both began serving six-year terms in January, but the Senate has a year to confirm them.

Critics of Brown say Rechtschaffen deserves hard questioning given his role in the 2011 firing of two top oil and gas regulators who warned Brown against issuing permits for oilfield injection wells. He was Brown’s top energy adviser at the time. Brown spokesman Evan Westrup calls the criticisms bogus.