Utility regulator. My private account. I do not speak for the Commission. My tweets are my own. Retweets do not equal endorsements.
California, USA
Joined January 2010
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Matt Baker retweeted
I don’t think the hydrological event in southwest Colorado is getting enough attention. This flooding event is historic and that is not hyperbole. The San Juan River at Pagosa Springs is now expected to crest at 19.38 feet; nearly 4.5 feet higher than the historic flood just last week and almost 2 feet above its all-time record.
Successive events of similar magnitudes compound impacts given that infrastructure has previously been weakened. I expect this event to cause significant damage to infrastructure across much of Southwest CO.
Matt Baker retweeted
RIP to an absolute lion of the field news.yale.edu/2026/10/31/wil…
Matt Baker retweeted
RIP Bill Nordhaus. A giant in the field of economics who transformed how we looked at the economics of climate change.
A giant is gone. news.yale.edu/2026/10/31/wil…
Matt Baker retweeted
Today we approved a $7.7 million settlement with Southern California Edison over the utility’s improper requests for service deposits from residential and small business customers. Learn more: docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDo…
Matt Baker retweeted
Earlier this year, California’s power grid achieved an impressive milestone: meeting the highest electricity demand in four years without emergency measures.
The more than 39,000 megawatts of clean energy added since 2019 helped accomplish this. Learn more about the CPUC’s role in long-term clean energy planning that supports summer reliability: bit.ly/45j6uBi
#CleanEnergyAwarenessMonth
Matt Baker retweeted
Behind the meter gas power has become a common path for data centers to get power faster. But it turns out operating a city-scale utility is no joke (turbine shafts breaking, low uptimes). It's hell for social licenes (if you think communities hate data centers, try data centers with 40 jet engines running non-stop!). And it leaves these facilities quite exposed to future gas price risk, as Aniruddh illustrates below.
Interesting sections on energy in Anthropic's S1 filing!
There's been speculation on how data centers are managing fuel price risk from gas offtake, whether off-grid data centers will happen at scale
- 'an increasing share of data centers being developed with dedicated onsite generation independent of the grid'
- ANT exposed to fuel price volatility as they bear cost on a pass-through basis, no cap on fuel costs
- Lack of firm gas supply can delay facilities
- For grid connected assets, ANT discusses 'investing in curtailment systems' to reduce strain during peak periods
- Cooling needs may increase over time for data centers due to changing climate
- Notes risk that utilities may reallocate capacity required by ANT data centers
Matt Baker retweeted
New from me: The US has faced a higher cost than any other country from the global Hormuz oil shock, with the crisis adding $160 billion to its fuel bill — or $471 per person on average — despite being the world’s largest oil producer.
Matt Baker retweeted
📢Happening soon!
In our upcoming informational webinar, CPUC Energy Division staff will provide an inside look at the General Rate Case process in which the CPUC reviews utility costs and makes decisions that help shape electric rates.
Learn more and register: bit.ly/4B1FPHz
Matt Baker retweeted
The CPUC’s Legal Division has more than 100 talented attorneys and support staff who play a crucial role in advising on decision-making. CPUC Attorney Maya Benatar chose a path of public service to be part of long-term changes that make a difference in protecting our planet.
Our new Q&A series focuses on our Legal Division and the important role this team plays. Check out our story and video to learn more, and if you’re looking for a meaningful career, consider joining us: bit.ly/4zKnBck
Matt Baker retweeted
Date Change: The CPUC will host a 3-day workshop (Oct. 20, 22, 27) on its Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D) program EPIC - the Electric Program Investment Charge. The workshop will discuss the program administrator’s EPIC 5 (2026-2030) Investment Plan proposals to address barriers and achieve objectives related to transportation electrification, distributed energy resources, building decarbonization, climate adaptation, and getting to net zero with the coordinated role of natural gas. The workshop is at the CPUC’s San Francisco office and there is a Zoom option. For more details, agenda, and to register see: docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDo…
ALT Upcoming events flyer for the Electric Program Investment Charge Workshop. Dates: October 20, 22, 27. Format: Hybrid via Webex. Location: CPUC San Francisco Office, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. California Public Utilities Commission logo is visible. Image includes a small illustration of a calendar.
Matt Baker retweeted
A baby girl was killed in her stroller today by a Russian drone strike in Nova Vodolaha, Kharkiv Region. Her name was Anhelina. Her mother died as well.
An absolutely barbaric strike on a park full of families with children.
6 people have been confirmed killed so far, including other children.
Matt Baker retweeted
A concerning thread
1\5
America went much further than that with its recent Starshield/Starlink restrictions on Ukraine. Let me explain the effects.
Starlink is a technology that provides critical communication service to government and civilian sector, I repeat the service is critical.
So what happened, and why it matters?
Someone wanted a 2 cent lower diesel prices before the midterms, or was promised something by putin in exchange for this, maybe he just had a bad mood.
Many say Ukraine is not an ally, so the USA can just do whatever it wants, however the service that was crippled by American political leadership or at their silent approval is sold to Germany and Poland, which are part of NATO and are in critical interests of these countries to keep Ukrainian operations running, you may argue, but it's official position by the elected political leadership of these states.
Many say it's a blow to the starlink, others that it's a blow to American military industries.
I think it's much wider, it's a significant in blow to the American tech and industrial sector which has been driving Americans economy for the past decades.
I am a cloud infrastructure engineer developing on premise, hybrid and sovereign solutions. This cloud infrastructure hosts data services used in production facilities, telecom, AI, mining industries and energy sector. Essentially all critical services to a functioning state.
Right now everything is run via remote control planes. Here are more concrete 3 example in the thread below:
Matt Baker retweeted
The American negotiating track will continue. We’re counting on them to put more pressure on Putin, not on us. Otherwise, it’s simply unfair. As for our meetings with the American side – we expect to meet and are ready to meet in Ukraine or in Europe. If they want to meet in America, let them invite us. We’re ready to negotiate anywhere, and we’re ready for any format: three-way, two-way, four-way, five-plus – it doesn’t matter. What matters is peace. The American side has given us a signal that our meeting with them can happen next week.
And, of course, in my view, Europeans need to have their own infrastructure and their own track for negotiations with Russia. We need to pursue every possible avenue to stop the war. We’ll also speak separately with Türkiye. I plan to talk separately with President Erdoğan about the sea and food security, and with representatives of Middle Eastern countries.
Regarding a meeting with Putin, the United States is working on this. They have a proposal for a trilateral meeting. This meeting can take place in one of the Middle Eastern countries. The United States has always mentioned the UAE or Saudi Arabia. Another possibility is for the meeting to take place in the United States during the G20 summit. But there has been no confirmation yet from Russia or from the United States. The meeting could also take place in one of the European countries. I know that the Europeans are starting contacts about this. We’ll see how things turn out a little later.
From answers to journalists’ questions. (3/3)
Matt Baker retweeted
CPUC Commissioner Christine Harada recently joined Liberty Utilities for a site visit in Norwalk and Downey to learn firsthand about the infrastructure that supports safe, reliable, and affordable water service. Learn more about the CPUC's water regulation: bit.ly/4bEakYy
Matt Baker retweeted
The weather forecast shows a possible significant weather event with elevated fire risk conditions. The CPUC is in close coordination with the state’s utilities. If a utility initiates a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) during periods of extreme wildfire risk, it is done as a last resort to protect public safety. In doing so, utilities must work to limit the impact, notify customers, and support people who may need additional assistance. The CPUC oversees utilities’ preparation for and implementation of PSPS events and holds them accountable for compliance with safety requirements. Utility outage maps are here: cpuc.ca.gov/consumer-support…
Matt Baker retweeted
CPUC leadership news! Pat Tsen has been named the CPUC's new Chief Deputy Executive Director! She will work closely with the CPUC Executive Leadership Team to oversee the day-to-day administrative, safety, transportation, water, rail, and consumer policy priorities. She most recently served as our Deputy Executive Director for Consumer Policy, Transportation and Enforcement since 2022. She first joined the CPUC as an Administrative Law Judge in 2013 and served as an Assistant Chief Administrative Law Judge from 2018-2022! Welcome to your new role, Pat!
Matt Baker retweeted
Do you know what a PSPS is?
During periods of extreme wildfire risk, electric utilities may temporarily turn off power in specific areas to help prevent their equipment from starting a wildfire. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).
Who decides when the power goes off?
An electric utility makes the decision based on forecasted weather conditions and local fire risk. The CPUC oversees utilities’ preparation for and implementation of PSPS events and holds them accountable for compliance with safety requirements.
Why are PSPS events sometimes necessary?
Strong winds can blow branches or debris into power lines, damage equipment, or bring lines down, potentially creating sparks that ignite a wildfire. Turning off power can help reduce that risk when dangerous conditions arise.
A PSPS is a last resort. Utilities must work to limit the impact, notify customers, and support people who may need additional assistance.
Stay informed. Utility outage maps are here: cpuc.ca.gov/consumer-support…
Matt Baker retweeted
When the CPUC approved San Jose Water Company’s General Rate Case last year, it authorized the utility to design a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remediation facility to meet new federal standards as part of its PFAS Compliance Program. Now, San Jose Water is preparing to construct the second largest ion-exchange PFAS treatment facility in the country.
In our new story, learn how the CPUC is helping water utilities become a model for how to meet new federal standards: bit.ly/4zpWDGO
Matt Baker retweeted
The Ukrainian people are the victims of this war, not its perpetrators. That simple historical fact eludes some in this administration, so it must be restated again and again.
Putin’s Kremlin isn’t just Ukraine’s enemy. It’s America’s enemy.
Whatever it is that drives the Trump administration’s animosity toward Ukraine, that hostility represents a grotesque moral failing. It isn’t just strategically incomprehensible; it betrays America’s values and traditions. nationalreview.com/corner/th…
Matt Baker retweeted
Gen. Jack Keane with some blunt advice for the president on Putin, “the massive pathological liar that he is.” Keane says that Putin "has convinced our president that he's genuine and sincere about wanting to make the deal...But what’s the evidence of that?”
Zelensky said yes to an unconditional ceasefire from the start. Putin has never agreed to one, and Keane notes that Russia has “violated every ceasefire that they’ve had” since 2014.
Putin can’t beat Ukraine’s army, so he’s waging war on its people. Keane points out that 15,000 civilians have been killed in 2026, up 55% from 2025. Last week alone: 100 killed, 20 of them children.
The bottom line: “It starts with Putin, because he has been the one who said no every single time.”