The California Energy Commission is proposing a significant overhaul of its conflict-of-interest code, introducing a new disclosure category specifically for positions involved with petroleum and transportation fuels. This comprehensive revision, detailed in backup materials prepared for the commission's business meeting on September 9, also includes substantial organizational updates across multiple departments and offices.
Commission staff stated that the existing code requires updating because the agency has undergone considerable structural changes since its last amendment in August 2022. These changes have involved the creation of new positions, the elimination of others, and modifications to the commission’s overall organizational framework.
A key element of the draft changes is the establishment of Category 11. This new category is designated for employees within the Transportation Fuels Market Unit. Staff noted that the addition of Category 11 directly addresses the specific work these positions perform on commission matters related to petroleum and other transportation fuels. The intent is to ensure that all economic interests tied to these particular activities are properly captured and disclosed by the relevant personnel.
Beyond the new fuels disclosure category, the proposed amendments outline broader reclassifications and renaming of positions across several core offices and divisions within the commission. Affected areas include the Office of Compliance Assistance and Enforcement, the Office of Public Participation, Energy Equity and Tribal Affairs, the Energy Assessments Division, and the Reliability, Renewable Energy and Decarbonization Incentives Division. Additionally, staff indicated that the Energy Data and Analytics Office is slated for deletion from the conflict-of-interest code because it is a one-person office, with the sole position classified as a CEA, making its separate inclusion in the code redundant under the revised structure.
The commission’s memorandum clarifies that the amendment itself is not considered a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This determination was made because the proposed changes would not result in any direct or indirect physical alteration to the environment.
According to the memo, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) provided preliminary approval for the proposal on July 23, 2026. The proposed resolution, if approved at the Sept. 9 meeting, would authorize the opening of a public comment period, allowing for community input on the changes. It would also empower the executive director to proceed with the necessary administrative and filing processes required to implement these amendments. The draft resolution included in the packet did not list vote tallies, and the materials indicate that the amendments must still complete remaining notice and filing steps before they officially take effect.
