Created in 1975, the California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. The Commission has five major responsibilities:

1. Forecasting future energy needs and keeping historical energy data;
2. Siting and licensing power plants;
3. Promoting energy efficiency through appliance and building standards;
4. Assisting energy research and development, supporting renewable energy, and working on energy industry emissions contributing to climate change;
5. Planning for and directing state response to energy emergencies.

California Independent System Operator (California ISO) is charged with managing the flow of electricity along the long-distance, high-voltage power lines that make up the bulk of California's transmission system. The not-for-profit public-benefit corporation assumed the responsibility in March 1998, when California opened its energy markets to competition and the state's investor-owned utilities turned their private transmission power lines over to the California ISO to manage.

The CPUC regulates privately owned telecommunications, electric, natural gas, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies. The CPUC is responsible for assuring California utility customers have safe, reliable utility service at reasonable rates, protecting utility customers from fraud, and promoting the health of California's economy.

The division oversees the drilling, operation, maintenance, and plugging and abandonment of oil, natural gas, and geothermal wells. The regulatory program emphasizes the wise development of oil, natural gas, and geothermal resources in the state through sound engineering practices that protect the environment, prevent pollution, and ensure public safety.

The Department of Water Resources is handling the state's bid-purchasing of short and long term electricity for sale to the state investor-owned utility companies.

FERC is an independent regulatory agency within the Department of Energy that: regulates the transmission and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce; regulates the transmission of oil by pipeline in interstate commerce; regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce; licenses and inspects private, municipal and state hydroelectric projects; oversees related environmental matters; and administers accounting and financial reporting regulations and conducts of jurisdictional companies.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA), created by Congress in 1977, is a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Energy. Our mission is to provide policy-neutral data, forecasts, and analyses to promote sound policy making, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.

"The Department of Energy's mission is to foster a secure and reliable energy system that is environmentally and economically sustainable...." The FERC which regulates the California ISO is part of the U.S. DOE.