New Public Utilities Commission Chair Appointed (MN)

MN Free Markets Institute ^ | 3-16-11 | MNFMI staff

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New Public Utilities Commission Chair Appointed: Governor Dayton has named Senator Ellen Anderson as the new Chair of the Public Utilities Commission. The five-member Public Utilities Commission regulates rates for electric and natural gas utilities and permits new power plants, electric transmission lines, and pipelines.

Sen. Anderson (DFL-St. Paul/Falcon Heights) is currently the ranking minority member on the Senate’s Energy and Utilities Committee and was formerly the Chair of the Senate Energy, Environment and Natural Resources finance committee. Her nomination is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

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In 2010 Sen. Anderson received a rating of 8 percent (out of 100) from the Taxpayers League of Minnesota and holds a lifetime rating of 9 percent. She received a score of 0 percent from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce last year, and stands at 0 percent so far in 2011. In 2010, Sen. Anderson received the endorsement of the Minnesota Sierra Club-North Star Chapter for re-election. PUC Commissioners serve six-year terms.