General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1193 proposes significant amendments to the governance and operational structure of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The bill reduces the number of commissioners from five to three, with all commissioners required to be electors of the state and appointed by the Governor with the General Assembly's advice and consent. It also stipulates that no more than two commissioners can belong to the same political party, standardizes their terms to four years, and outlines the process for appointing a chairperson and vice-chairperson. Additionally, the bill assigns matters before the authority to a single utility commissioner, requiring decisions to be either unanimous or approved by a majority vote of all commissioners.

Further provisions in the bill include prohibiting utility commissioners and certain employees from disclosing confidential information for personal gain and restricting them from accepting employment with lobbying entities related to public service companies for one year after leaving their positions. The chairperson is tasked with overseeing staff and operations, ensuring alignment with established energy strategies. The bill also updates record-keeping practices, mandating the maintenance of records for all communications and official acts. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025, with the overall aim of enhancing the integrity, efficiency, transparency, and accountability of PURA's operations.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 16-2, 16-6