Tennessee Public Utility Commission
| Tennessee Public Utility Commission | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $174,696 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $8,271,200 |
| Total Seats: | 8 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 6 years |
| Authority: | Tennessee Code, Title 65, Chapter 1, Part 1 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed: Two by the governor, two by the speaker of the senate, two by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one by joint agreement among the governor, the speaker of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
| David Crowell, Clay Good, John Hie, Kenneth Hill, Herbert Hilliard, David Jones, Robin Morrison, Earl Taylor | |
| Other Tennessee Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Comptroller • Treasurer • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Tennessee Public Utility Commission, formerly known as the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, is an appointed executive board in the Tennessee state government. Created in 1996, the authority is a governing body responsible for regulating utilities in Tennessee.[1]
In 2017, Gov. Bill Haslam (R) signed legislation renaming the Tennessee Regulatory Authority to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission.[1]
Current officeholder
The current officeholders are:
- David Crowell (nonpartisan)
- Clay Good (nonpartisan)
- John Hie (nonpartisan)
- Kenneth Hill (nonpartisan)
- Herbert Hilliard (nonpartisan)
- David Jones (nonpartisan)
- Robin Morrison (nonpartisan)
- Earl Taylor (nonpartisan)
Authority
The Tennessee Public Utility Commission was created in 1995 by the Tennessee General Assembly.[1] Title 65, Chapter 1, Part 1 of the Tennessee code annotated formally establishes the authority:[2]
Title 65, Chapter 1, Part 1:
| There is created the Tennessee public utility commission consisting of seven (7) part-time commissioners. The commission is composed as follows: Two (2) commissioners appointed by the governor; Two (2) commissioners appointed by the speaker of the senate; Two (2) commissioners appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and one (1) commissioner appointed by joint agreement among the governor, the speaker of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives. In making the appointments pursuant to this subsection (a), the governor, the speaker of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall strive to ensure that the Tennessee public utility commission is composed of commissioners who are diverse in professional or educational background, ethnicity, geographic residency, perspective, and experience. |
Qualifications
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Tennessee Public Utility Commission has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Appointments
In 2012, Gov. Bill Haslam (R) signed HB 2385/SB 2247, changing the membership of the agency from four full-time directors to five part-time directors and establishing the executive director position.[3][4]
Before 2012, there were four directors, each appointed from a different source: one by the governor, one by the president of the state senate, one by the speaker of the state house, and one by joint appointment.[1]
The directors are appointed to staggered, six-year terms. All appointments are confirmed by joint resolution by both the state senate and state house, except the director who is appointed by joint appointment of the three appointing authorities.[5]
Vacancies
Title 65, Chapter 1, Part 1 of the Tennessee Code requires that "any vacancy on the authority shall be filled by the original appointing authority for such position to serve the unexpired term and such appointments shall be confirmed in the same manner as the original appointment. However, if the general assembly is not in session and a vacancy occurs, the appropriate appointing authority shall fill such vacancy by appointment and the appointee to such vacancy shall serve the unexpired term unless such appointment is not confirmed within thirty (30) days after the general assembly convenes following the appointment to fill such vacancy."[5]
Duties
The Tennessee Public Utility Commission is responsible for setting the rates and service standards of privately owned telephone, natural gas, electric and water utilities. It also provides assistance and consumer protection programs.[1]
Divisions
As of February 2021, there were four main divisions within the Tennessee Public Utility commission:[6]
- Consumer Services: This division "is responsible for monitoring the quality of services provided by regulated utilities, and enforcing the rules and regulations of the Commission."[6]
- Gas Pipeline Safety: This division's mission is "to contribute to the safety and reliability of intrastate natural gas distribution and transmission pipeline facilities by conducting pipeline safety inspections across the state."[6]
- Utilities: This division "assists the Commission in establishing and implementing policy regarding Tennessee's gas, water, sewer, waste water, electric, and telephone companies to result in fair and responsible regulation for all utility companies and consumers in the state."[6]
- Damage Prevention: This division's mission is "to prevent harm to people, property, and underground utility facilities."[6]
State budget
- See also: Tennessee state budget and finances
The budget for the Tennessee Public Utility Commission in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 was $8,271,200.[7]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, each commissioner received a salary of $174,696, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2022
In 2022, each commissioner received a salary of $174,696, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2021
In 2021, each commissioner received a salary of $164,688, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2020
In 2020, each commissioner received a salary of $164,688, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2019
In 2019, each commissioner received a salary of $164,688, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2018
In 2018, each commissioner received a salary of $158,352, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2017
In 2017, each commissioner received a salary of $158,352, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2016
In 2016, each commissioner received a salary of $158,352, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2015
In 2015, each commissioner received a salary of $152,256, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2014
In 2014, each director received a salary of $152,256 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2013
In 2013, the directors of the Tennessee Public Utility Commission were paid an estimated $156,216. This figure comes from 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee Regulatory Authority. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Tennessee Public Utility Commission
502 Deaderick Street 4th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-2904
Toll-free: (800) 342-8359
Email: contact.tpuc@tn.gov
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Tennessee Public Utility Commission, "History and Leadership," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Tennessee Laws, Policies, and Guides, "Laws," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Tennessee.gov, "Haslam Appoints David Jones to Tennessee Regulatory Authority" accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Tennessee.gov, "New Tennessee Regulatory Authority Takes Form" accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lexisnexis.com, "Tennessee Code Ann. § 65-1-101," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Tennessee Public Utility Commission, "Divisions," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Tennessee.gov, "Tennessee House Bill 2973," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑ 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, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed February 2, 2021
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