Tiburon man’s idea to limit utility lobbying wins lawmaking contest

Tiburon resident Dan Hipple says he would often read stories in the news about members of the California Public Utilities Commission — the state’s regulatory body for water, telecommunications, electric and natural-gas companies — leaving to suddenly become employed by Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

That didn’t sit right with him. “What were they doing for PG&E when they were on the commission when they should have been doing things for the public’s interest?”

So when he learned of Assemblymember Damon Connolly’s fourth annual “There Ought to be a Law” contest — in which members of the public submit ideas for legislation — he decided to act. He proposed requiring outgoing state utilities commissioners to wait five years, rather than the current one year, before becoming lobbyists for utility companies.

Hipple’s submission was chosen as the contest winner and is now Assembly Bill 2618. Connolly, D-San Rafael, said in an email interview that he is aiming to get the bill signed into law before the end of the year.

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