General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1193 proposes significant amendments to the structure and governance 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 consent. It also stipulates that no more than two commissioners can belong to the same political party and establishes four-year terms for those appointed after May 1, 2020. Additionally, the bill modifies the selection process for the chairperson and vice-chairperson, allowing for a single commissioner to handle matters before the authority, provided that decisions are made unanimously.

Further provisions in the bill include prohibiting utility commissioners and certain employees from disclosing confidential information for personal gain and from accepting employment with lobbying entities for one year post-service. It allows for private communication among commissioners assigned to specific matters without being classified as a meeting and mandates that the authority's office remain open during normal business hours while maintaining comprehensive records of communications and official acts. The effective date for these amendments is set for October 1, 2025, with the overall aim of enhancing the integrity, efficiency, and transparency of PURA's operations.

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