Rules committee advances Greg Nybert nomination to Public Regulation Commission

The Senate Rules Committee voted to advance Greg Nybert’s nomination to the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) to the full Senate after an extended hearing in which Nybert described his early days on the commission, his legal background and his views on the PRC’s responsibilities under state energy law.

Sen. Stewart, who presented Nybert, summarized his long legal and legislative career and said Nybert’s experience in law, energy and public service make him a qualified candidate. Nybert, who said he has been on the PRC for 29 days, told the committee he undertook a detailed review of the agency before accepting the appointment and that his review found the commission to be increasingly professional and focused on balancing reliable, affordable energy and attracting capital to the state.

Responding to a question from Sen. Stefanik, Nybert said the Energy Transition Act is law and “it's the obligation of the Public Regulation Commission to enforce and implement that law.” He told senators he believes the PRC should communicate more with the legislature and the governor’s office about how laws are implemented and about problems or needed adjustments.

Committee members asked about Nybert’s plan to get up to speed and his approach to potential conflicts of interest given his prior decades at a private law firm with statewide offices. Nybert said his immediate on‑the‑job preparation included reading statutes and agency materials, attending ethics trainings, meeting staff and planning to attend commissioner training conferences. On conflicts, he said he will evaluate recusal questions case‑by‑case and that long‑standing personal relationships with some former colleagues would require careful scrutiny; he said he would recuse when his impartiality could reasonably be questioned.

Supporters including Missy Currier and other legislators praised Nybert’s diligence and said he brings legal and policy experience the commission needs. Several senators asked how the PRC should interact with the legislature on bills — Nybert said he hoped to serve as a bridge by improving regular communication and to report back on implementation of statutes such as the Energy Transition Act.

Sen. Bergman moved to advance Nybert to the Senate floor. The committee took a roll call; the clerk announced the committee vote was eight yes and two excused, and the nomination was advanced to the full Senate for confirmation.