Rachel Peterson
Executive Director
California Public Utilities Commission
United States
Rachel Peterson was appointed Executive Director of the California Public Utilities Commission in January 2021. She leads the Commission’s statewide workforce to accomplish California’s pathbreaking goals in the areas of energy, telecommunications, safety, rail, water, and passenger transportation. California is a dynamic state and the CPUC sets policy and rules for utility services that are essential to modern life – and Rachel has set her sights on two long-range strategic priorities: achieve the Commission’s regulatory mission in the context of climate change, and invest in the Commission’s workforce. She is moving the CPUC toward this vision with effective leadership driven by values. Rachel has worked at the CPUC since 2011 in numerous leadership positions, including chief of staff and advisor to Commissioners, and as an executive in the areas of safety policy and enforcement.
Speaker agenda
Lessons learned from California: Regulation of energy utilities in a changing climate
As in Australia, California is experiencing climate change firsthand, today. Drought, ecosystem stress, intensifying wildfires and winter storms: all are present and compounding each other. This keynote will address how California’s energy ambition – 100% clean energy by 2045 – is both impacted by climate realities, and essential to meeting the climate crisis head-on.
Panel: Managing an increasingly weather dependent system in a changing climate
Topics to be discussed:
- Lessons learned from the Summer of 2023-24
- Planning for uncertainty
- Striking the balance between the unknown and gold-plating
- Navigating a changing climate and recent weather trends
Meet our moderator & panelists
Women in Energy and Young Energy Professional Breakfast - Balancing Global Trends and Local Needs in the Energy Sector
Join Young Energy Professionals and Women in Energy Perth for breakfast on Friday 16th of August as part of the 23rd Energy in Western Australia Conference.
Engage in a panel discussion that talks through the balance between global energy trends and Western Australia’s local needs. The panel will unpack strategies that harmonise these perspectives to foster a sustainable, affordable, reliable energy future. Together, we’ll explore policy and infrastructure solutions that cater to both worldwide shifts and the specific challenges of our region.
This event includes refreshments and continental breakfast.
We look forward to seeing you there.
