Dian

With a recent history as a lawyer and energy consultant before California regulators, Dian Grueneich, the newest member of the California Public Utilities Commission, recused herself from all energy matters during her first business meeting Thursday. She is still in the process of determining on which specific cases she can cast votes. Steve Poizner, a second new member on the five-member panel, is still awaiting formal swearing into office by the governor.

One of the two new members of the California Public Utilities Commission was sworn in last Tuesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Dian Grueneich’s official placement on the five-member regulatory panel was announced Thursday by the CPUC’s San Francisco office. A lawyer who has worked on various energy and environmental issues before the CPUC in the past, Grueneich still has to be confirmed by the California Senate, but under state law, she can serve for up to a year without being confirmed. A second Schwarzenegger appointee, Steve Poizner, was not mentioned in the CPUC announcement so it is assumed the governor is still waiting to swear him in to his new position — a paid, full-time appointment, as is Grueneich’s. A long-time observer of the CPUC and a speaker at a Seattle energy conference Thursday, Arthur O’Donnell, said as part of as summary of the state’s current energy issues that Grueneich likely will have to recuse herself from a number of CPUC votes during her first year because of the work she has done in recent years representing various consumer, energy efficiency and environmental interests before the CPUC.