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Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
| Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $177,027 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $325,028,000 |
| Total Seats: | 5 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 5 years |
| Authority: | Pennsylvania Constitution, Article IV, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
| Kimberly Barrow, John F. Coleman, Stephen DeFrank, Ralph Yanora, Kathryn Zerfuss | |
| Other Pennsylvania Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is a five-person executive board in the Pennsylvania state government. The commission oversees the state's public utility industries. Commissioners are nominated to staggered, five-year terms by the governor and confirmed by the state senate.[1]
Current officeholder
The current officeholders are:
- Kimberly Barrow (nonpartisan)
- John F. Coleman (nonpartisan)
- Stephen DeFrank (nonpartisan)
- Ralph Yanora (nonpartisan)
- Kathryn Zerfuss (nonpartisan)
Authority
The public utility commission was established by state statute.[2]
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 66, Chapter 3, Section 301(a)
|
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, established by the act of March 31, 1937 (P.L.160, No.43), as an independent administrative commission, is hereby continued as such.[2] |
Qualifications
Commissioners have to be Pennsylvania residents no younger than 25 years of age who have been allowed to vote in the state for at least one year.[2]
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 66, Chapter 3, Section 301(b)
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Each commissioner, at the time of his appointment and qualification, shall be a resident of this Commonwealth and shall have been a qualified elector therein for a period of at least one year next preceding his appointment, and shall also be not less than 25 years of age.[2] |
Appointments
Public utility commissioners are not elected in Pennsylvania. The governor nominates candidates for approval by the state senate, and the senate confirms the nominations before the candidates assume office. Commissioners serve staggered, five-year terms.[2]
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 66, Chapter 3, Section 301(a)
|
The commission shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of the Senate, for a term of five years.[2] |
Vacancies
Article IV, Section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution grants the governor the power to appoint officers to fill vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in the office, the governor nominates a successor. This nomination must be made to the commonwealth senate within 90 days of the vacancy. The senate must then take action (confirming or not confirming the nomination) within 25 legislative days.[2]
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 66, Chapter 3, Section 301(a)
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The Governor may submit the nomination to the Senate within 60 days prior to the expiration of the term or the effective date of the resignation of the member whom the nominee would replace and shall submit that nomination no later than 90 days after the expiration of the term or the effective date of the resignation.[2] |
Duties
The public utility commission is responsible for regulating Pennsylvania's public utility industries and protecting consumers. According to the Commission's website:[3]
| “ | The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission oversees the nearly 7,000 entities which provide utility services across the state, including:
The roles and responsibilities of the PUC continues to evolve as the utility marketplace and technology changes and as legislators amend the Public Utility Code.[4] |
” |
Divisions
The public utility commission has 13 offices and bureaus that the various handle administrative, legal, legislative, regulatory and financial duties of the commission.[3]
State budget
The budget for the Public Utility Commission in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 was $325,028,000.[5]
Compensation
The commissioners' salaries is set by statute and subject to cost-of-living adjustments, also known as COLAs, pursuant to Section 3(e) of the Public Official Compensation Law (amended in 1995). This law mandates that Pennsylvania executives' salaries "shall be increased by applying the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland area for the most recent 12-month period for which figures have been officially reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) immediately prior to the date adjustment is due to take effect."[6]
2023
In 2023, each commissioner received a salary of $177,027, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, each commissioner received a salary of $164,399, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, each commissioner received a salary of $155,813, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, each commissioner received a salary of $155,813 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, each commissioner received a salary of $150,585 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, each commissioner received a salary of $150,585 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, each commissioner received a salary of $149,410 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, each commissioner received a salary of $147,525, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, each commissioner received a salary of $145,241, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, each commissioner received a salary of $145,241, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, each commissioner was paid an estimated $144,417, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2010
In 2010, each commissioner was paid an estimated $135,434, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Street Address:
400 North Street
Keystone Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 1-800-692-7380
Mailing Address:
Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Keystone Bldg.
Harrisburg, PA 17120
See also
| Pennsylvania | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Public Utility History, "A history of the Pennsylvania public utility commission (Pages 2-3)," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Pennsylvania General Assembly, "Consolidated Statutes," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, "About the PUC," accessed December 11, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "Executive Budget 2024-25," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑ Pennsylvania Legislature, "Senate Bill: Act 51 of 1995," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments Book of the States, Chapter 4, Table 4.11," accessed June14, 2011
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