Case Study: California Public Utilities Commission achieves faster, more efficient electronic filing and public access with OpenText Document Management (eDOCS Edition)

California Public Utilities Commission Improves Efficiencies with Electronic Filing

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which regulates electric, gas, telecom, water and transportation companies in California, struggled with a paper‑intensive filing system that required multiple copies, limited public access, lost or missing files, long processing times and backlog—making it difficult to manage thousands of documents for applications, complaints and rulemakings while meeting legal retention and public‑access requirements.

CPUC deployed OpenText Document Management (eDOCS Edition) with an online e‑filing front end (efile.cpuc.ca.gov), an Agency Review Module, XML conversion and Oracle integration, launching publicly in 2006. The system achieved about 92% e‑filing adoption (6–7K e‑files/year), cut processing time from ~2 days to ~1/3 day, improved search and publication of official records, reduced paper and costs, and enabled staff to shift to higher‑value work—advancing the commission toward a paperless office.

California Public Utilities Commission

Angela Minkin

Administrative Law Judge