At the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), two advisory groups play a key role in shaping policies and programs for disadvantaged and low-income communities. The Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group (DACAG) and the Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB) provide input to ensure that utility services are safe, reliable, and affordable for all Californians.
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 include representatives from community-based organizations and advocacy groups serving environmental social justice and tribal communities. The group advises on clean energy policies with a focus on affordability, pollution reduction, and access to advanced technologies. It also advocates for equitable investment in clean energy initiatives such as energy efficiency and transportation electrification.
“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 discussions within DACAG have addressed topics like the state’s Equity and Access Roadmap, clean transportation efforts, and distributed energy resource programs. These conversations aim to support California’s climate goals while ensuring that no community is excluded from progress.
The LIOB was created in 2001 by the Legislature to advise on program design for low-income Californians’ access to affordable energy, water, and telecommunications services. Its board includes representatives from community organizations, utilities, and state agencies who work together to keep policies responsive to low-income households’ needs.
The LIOB provides feedback on initiatives such as the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program—which offers bill discounts—and oversees efforts like the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA), which supplies free energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified households. The board also focuses on improving outreach through multilingual resources and partnerships with local groups. It collaborates with other agencies to streamline assistance programs across different regions.
“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 bodies share a commitment to making California’s transition toward clean energy fairer and more accessible. Their recommendations assist CPUC in reducing pollution burdens in frontline communities, expanding benefits of clean energy policies, strengthening protections for vulnerable residents, and improving overall program effectiveness through direct engagement with affected populations.
