The Stanford Energy Seminar has been a mainstay of energy engagement at Stanford for nearly 20 years and is one of the flagship programs of the Precourt Institute for Energy. We aim to bring a wide variety of perspectives to the Stanford community – academics, entrepreneurs, utilities, non-profits, and more. 

Talk Abstract

California electricity rates are among the highest in the nation. Over the last decade, ratepayers have funded significant, new wildfire mitigation activities and recovery costs. For the average PG&E residential customer, these costs represent about a quarter of their bill today. New costs, including to support rapid electrification and modernizing older infrastructure, are also major cost drivers. How can California manage the dual challenge of minimizing rates and investing in critical priorities?

Speaker Bio 

Matthew Baker was appointed to the CPUC by Governor Gavin Newsom on Feb. 16, 2024.
 
Previously, Commissioner Baker has worked as the California Public Utilities Commission’s Director of the Public Advocates Office and Deputy Secretary of Energy at the California Natural Resources Agency. He was also a Commissioner for the Colorado Public Utilities Commission from 2008 to 2012. In addition to his roles in state government, he was previously a Program Officer for the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and worked in many capacities with the consumer advocate Public Interest Research Group beginning in 1987. Commissioner Baker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Pennsylvania State University.

Anyone with an interest in energy is welcome to join! You can enjoy seminars in the following ways:

• Attend live. The auditorium may change quarter by quarter, so check each seminar event to confirm the location. Explore the current quarter's schedule.
• Watch live in a browser livestream if available. Check each seminar event for its unique livestream URL.
• Watch recordings of past seminars 
  • Available on the Past Energy Seminars page and the Energy Seminars playlist of the Stanford Energy YouTube channel
• (For students) Take the seminar as a 1-unit class (CEE 301/ENERGY 301/MS&E 494)

If you'd like to join the Stanford Energy Seminar mailing list to hear about upcoming talks, sign up here.