Commissioners at the California Energy Commission
The governor appoints, with Senate confirmation, five commissioners to staggered five-year terms. The commissioners must come from and represent specific areas of expertise: law, environment, economics, science/engineering, and the public at large.
Chair
Robert B. Weisenmiller, Ph.D.
Appointment Designation: Engineer/Scientist
Commissioner
Karen Douglas, J.D.
Appointment Designation: Attorney
Commissioner
David Hochschild
Appointment Designation: Environmental
Commissioner
Andrew McAllister
Appointment Designation: Economist
Commissioner
Janea A. Scott
Appointment Designation: Public Member
Commissioner's Terms of Office
The Warren-Alquist Act became effective January 7, 1975, and Governor Jerry Brown appointed the first commissioners. Thus, each Commissioner's five-year-term expires on January 6th of the year in which that particular office needs to be appointed or re-appointed. Section 25206 of the Act gives the Governor 30 days to appoint a new commissioner or re-appoint the incumbent, and if the Governor fails to do so within that period, the Senate Rules Committee may appoint someone to that office. Governors have often made informal arrangements with the Chair of the Senate Rules Committee to give themselves more time.
Commissioners usually continue to serve until a new commissioner is appointed. Section 1302 of the Government Code says, "Every officer whose term has expired shall continue to discharge the duties of his office until his successor has qualified." This means that commissioners can continue to serve if they choose to do so until another person is appointed and takes the oath of office. Other provisions of the Government Code limit this "hold over" service normally to 60 days. If the Governor has not acted in that period of time, the office becomes "vacant" even if the former incumbent is willing to continue to serve.
