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Public Utility Commission of Texas

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The Public Utility Commission of Texas is a state executive position in the Texas state government. The Commission is in charge of regulating electric and telecommunications utilities in Texas.[1]

Current officeholder

Texas

Texas State Executives
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Agriculture Commissioner
Insurance Commissioner
Land Commissioner
Workforce Commission
Public Utility Commission
Railroad Commission

The current chairman is Donna Nelson. She serves alongside Kenneth Anderson and Rolando Pablos.

Authority

The Chairman's powers, term of office, etc. are derived from Chapter 12 of the Texas Utilities Code.

Section 001:

The Public Utility Commission of Texas exercises the jurisdiction and powers conferred by this title.[2]

Qualifications

Chapter 12, Section 53 of the Texas Utilities Code establishes the requirements for office:

Section 053 (a) defines qualifications for holding office:

(a) To be eligible for appointment, a commissioner must be: (1) a qualified voter; (2) a citizen of the United States; and (3) a representative of the general public.[3]

Section 053 (b) defines restrictions that prohibit someone from holding office:

(b) A person is not eligible for appointment as a commissioner if the person:

(1) at any time during the two years preceding appointment: (A) personally served as an officer, director, owner, employee, partner, or legal representative of a public utility, affiliate, or direct competitor of a public utility; or (B) owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, stocks or bonds of any class with a value of $10,000 or more in a public utility, affiliate, or direct competitor of a public utilit[4]

Appointment

The three commissioners are appointed by the governor to six-year, staggered terms. The governor appoints the presiding officer (chairman) from the three-member commission to serve "at the pleasure of the governor."[5]

Vacancies

The governor fills vacancies by appointment.[5]

Duties

Under Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter 14, Subchapter A, Sec. 14.001 of the Texas Utilities Code, the commission "has the general power to regulate and supervise the business of each public utility within its jurisdiction and to do anything specifically designated or implied by this title that is necessary and convenient to the exercise of that power and jurisdiction."[6]

Divisions

  • Fiscal
  • IT Planning/Facilities
  • Network/Help Desk
  • Systems Development

Compensation

In 2010, the members of the Public Utility Commission of Texas were each paid an estimated $115,500 according to the Council of State Governments.[7]

Contact information

Physical address: William B. Travis Bldg.
1701 N. Congress Avenue
7th Floor
Austin, TX 78701
Mailing address: 1701 N. Congress Avenue
PO Box 13326
Austin, TX 78711-3326

Phone: 512/936-7000

See also

External links

References

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