Article 2. Appointments of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 6. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 2.

All appointments under the civil service system shall be made for the good of the public service and solely on the basis of integrity, character, merit, fitness, and industry as established by appropriate competitive tests, without regard to partisan, political, social, or other considerations, and shall be made from lists of eligibles prepared by the general manager.

(a) When no list of eligibles is available for a position in the class requisitioned by the department or division head, the general manager may make a noncivil service appointment thereto for a period of not exceeding six months and only until a regular appointment can be made, but no person shall be compensated under a noncivil service appointment, or appointments, for a period exceeding six months in any fiscal or calendar year, and no office or employment may be filled by a noncivil service appointment for more than six months in the aggregate in one fiscal or calendar year.
  (b) This section does not apply to a district which has owned or operated an electric distribution system for at least eight years and has a population of 250,000 or more.

When no list of eligibles is available for a position in the class requisitioned by the department or division head, the general manager of a district which has owned and operated an electric distribution system for at least eight years and has a population of 250,000 or more may make a noncivil service appointment thereto for a period of not exceeding 12 months and only until a regular appointment can be made.

The general manager may make appointments to higher positions exclusively promotional by tests from lower ranks.

Every appointee to a permanent position shall be on probation for six months, except that the general manager may establish a probationary period for up to 12 months for professional, scientific, technical, administrative, management, or executive positions, or for positions requiring certification by the state pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 13625) of Division 7 of the Water Code. The general manager may terminate the appointment during the probationary period. If the appointment is not then terminated it shall be permanent, subject to this division and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this division.