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Public Service Commission budget stays self‑funded at $10.9M; commissioners stress vacancy and turnover issues
Summary
The Public Service Commission told the House Appropriations Committee it recommends a $10.9 million FY‑26 budget entirely from self‑generated revenue; members discussed vacancies, attorney retention, and regional travel for federal and RTO hearings.
The Public Service Commission presented its fiscal year 2026 budget recommendation of $10.9 million, funded entirely with self‑generated revenues, to the House Appropriations Committee on March 20.
"I'm Abigail Chasten with House Fiscal Division and today I'll be presenting the Executive Budget for fiscal year 26 for the Public Service Commission," Abigail Chasten said at the start of the PSC presentation.
The largest program in the PSC’s budget is its Administrative Program, which houses 31 positions and accounts for about 39% of the department budget. The commission reported 95 authorized positions with 16 vacancies as of Dec. 30, 2024. The PSC’s average salary is about $4,000 below the statewide average, and personnel services account for roughly 85% of the commission’s budget.
Brandon Frey, executive secretary of the PSC, told the committee the commission provided an estimated $184.3 million in direct savings to ratepayers through docketed proceedings year‑to‑date and emphasized staff turnover as a key issue. Frey said the PSC has lost technical and legal staff to other state agencies and the private sector and now offers special starting rates for attorneys and auditors to improve recruitment. "We've had that same issue with turnover," Frey said. "In fiscal year 24, we lost 16 employees…we hired 14."
Committee members asked about travel increases tied to regional and federal proceedings. The PSC explained it participates in regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and sometimes pursues matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C.; the commission said the travel budget helps pay for attendance at those forums and regional meetings.
Members also asked about FCC activity to cap calling rates for incarcerated people. PSC staff said recent federal action (Martha Wright Reed Act rules adopted by the FCC) may preempt state regulation of inmate calling rates and that litigation is pending; if the FCC rule remains in effect it would set nationwide caps for inter‑ and intrastate calls.
Why it matters: the PSC regulates utilities and motor carriers; its staffing and travel directly affect oversight of regional power markets, FERC proceedings and local consumer issues such as utility rates and inmate calling rates. Commissioners said recruiting and retaining attorneys and technical staff is essential to manage complex regulatory dockets.
The PSC presentation did not include legislative votes; staff answered members’ questions and described plans to fill vacancies and retain technical staff.
