The Board, created by Assembly Bill 1890 (Brulte) ends the state's electric power monopolies. The bill was signed by Governor Wilson on September 23, 1996. It will direct an orderly transition from the existing electric power structure to open, non-discriminatory, common carrier operation of the state's high voltage electric transmission network by an Independent System Operator and a "commodities market type" Power Exchange. The Governor will appoint the three public members subject to State Senate confirmation; the State Senate and Assembly will each appoint an Ex-Officio non-voting member from their respective bodies.

Oversight Board members will assume a vital role in shaping energy public policy as California becomes one of the first states in the nation to launch a free and competitive electricity market. The Board will decide the relative makeup of stakeholders interests on the Independent System Operator and Power Exchange governing boards, appoint members to the governing boards, oversee the workings of the operating boards, and once the Independent System Operator governing board is established, serve as the appellate body for challenges to majority decisions of the Independent System Operator.

Applications for the three public member positions are available from the Energy Commission and the Public Utilities Commission. The two Commissions have jointly developed applicant qualifications. Both Commissions were directed by the bill to nominate qualified candidates for the Governor's consideration.

Qualified candidates should have a background that enables them to assess the qualifications of potential Independent System Operator and Power Exchange governing boards. Since the Board will function as an appeal body for the majority decisions of the Independent System Operator, the candidate should have some familiarity with the decision making process in corporations, the legislature and regulatory forums. While knowledge of California's electricity system would be desirable, it is not necessarily an essential qualification.

Applications are due to both the Energy Commission and Public Utilities Commission by December 4, 1996.

For a copy of the application please contact either:

California Energy Commission's Secretariat, Ms. Betty McCann, 1516 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 654-5029; or

California Public Utilities Commission, Office of the President, Attn. Ms. Montellano, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 703-2283.

Gary Heath, Adviser to Vice Chair Rakow, California Energy Commission, (916) 654-3992, e-mail address: gheath@energy.ca.gov; or

John Scadding, Adviser to President Conlon, California Public Utilities Commission, (415) 703-1175.