Idaho Public Utilities Commission

	Idaho Public Utilities Commission
	; ;
	General information
Office Type:	Non-partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Total Seats:	3
Term limits:	None
	Structure
Length of term:	6 years
Authority:	Idaho Statutes, 61-201
Leadership:	Paul Kjellander
Selection Method:	Appointed by the governor
	Other Idaho Executive Offices
	Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Controller • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Agriculture Director • Insurance Director • Director of Lands • Labor Director • Public Utilities Commission

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The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is a quasi-legislative, quasi-executive agency in the Idaho state government. The commission is a three-person body that supervises and regulates Idaho's electric, gas, telecommunications and water utilities.^[1] Commissioners are appointed by the governor with the consent of the Idaho Senate and serve six year terms.

Current officeholders

The current commissioners are Paul Kjellander (appointed March 2011), Marsha Smith (first appointed 1991, most recently re-appointed 2009), and Mack Redford, (appointed 2007, re-appointed February 2013).^[2]

Authority

The public service commission is established by state law.^[3]

Idaho Statutes, 61-201

There is hereby created a state commission to be known and designated as the Idaho public utilities commission.

Qualifications

Members of the commission are required to be qualified electors in Idaho, i.e. at least 18 years old and residents of the state. Additionally, no commissioner may have any financial interest in any company he regulates, nor take part in electoral politics.^[4] Further, no more than 2 members of the commission may be of the same party.^[3]

Appointments

Public service commissioners are appointed by the governor with the consent of the state Senate. They serve staggered six year terms.^[3]

Term limits

There are no term limits for public service commissioners.

Vacancies

Vacancies on the commission are filled by the governor, who appoints a replacement to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.^[3]

Duties

The public service commission is responsible for regulating the state's electric, gas, water and telecommunications companies, except for publicly owned, municipal and cooperative organizations. The commission sets rates and makes rules governing business practices; it exercises a quasi-judicial authority as part of this process by conducting hearings and issuing orders similar to those made by a court. The commission also has an executive function, in that it enforces its own regulations and other state laws regarding public utilities.^[1]

Divisions

Administration
Legal
Utilities
- Accounting
- Engineering
- Telecommunications
- Consumer Assistance
Rail
Pipeline Safety^[1]

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

In 2012, the Idaho public service commissioners were paid an estimated $92,167. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.

Recent news

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