By Hudson Sangree

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his choice Friday for a new leader of the state’s Public Utilities Commission.

Marybel Batjer, currently the state’s government operations secretary, will soon replace retiring President Michael Picker, Newsom said. He called Batjer “one of the best in the business.”

“She is about reorganization,” Newsom said. “She is about governance.”

Batjer’s official biography says she was appointed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013 to head the Government Operations Agency, a new entity charged with improving efficiency and accountability in state government as part of Brown’s reorganization efforts.

Newsom kept her on in that role and gave her the job of reforming the Department of Motor Vehicles, one of the state’s most inefficient bureaucracies.

“She has led forward-looking efforts to revamp the way the state approaches data and technology, modernized the civil service system, and has led the implementation of key initiatives to green state government and promote renewable energy,” Newsom’s office said in a news release.

“Prior to taking office at CPUC, Batjer will complete her work later this month as head of Gov. Newsom’s DMV Strike Team, which has already begun implementation of key changes to transition the California Department of Motor Vehicles into a more customer-friendly and user-centered culture, to better serve Californians,” it said.

She’s expected to take office at the CPUC at the beginning of August.

Previously, Batjer was vice president of public policy and corporate social responsibility for Caesars Entertainment. Her state and federal government experience includes stints as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cabinet secretary, special assistant to the secretary of the Navy in the George H.W. Bush administration and a national security advisor in the Reagan administration.

Newsom made the announcement during a press conference and signing ceremony for Assembly Bill 1054, a major new wildfire law that will be implemented in part by the CPUC. (See Calif. Utility Relief Bill Speeds to Governor.)

The CPUC has come under fire in the last year for moving slowly in response to California’s wildfire crisis. There were rumors months ago that Newsom intended to appoint his own CPUC president to replace Picker, a former aide to Gov. Jerry Brown.

Picker said in a recent interview with RTO Insider that Newsom hadn’t asked him to leave, but that he felt it was time to retire. (See Retiring CPUC President Still Has Lots to Say.)

Newsom thanked Picker for his service Friday.

“Michael has brought deep expertise in energy policy and a commitment to advancing the state’s climate goals,” the governor said in a statement. “His knowledge, vision and commitment has been critical as the state examines the role of utilities following recent catastrophic wildfires, and necessary changes in an era of climate change.”

Picker was unavailable Friday, according to an aide. Batjer could not immediately be reached for comment.