Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Policy Psc topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senator Stivers pushes hearing on long-term energy policy and Public Service Commission expansion
Summary
Senate Bill 8 prompted a broad committee discussion on Kentucky's energy capacity, the role and capacity of the Public Service Commission and the potential expansion of the commission; an environmental group supported expansion but raised conflict-of-interest concerns about an auditor appointment proposal.
Senate Bill 8, filed to prompt discussion of Kentucky's long-term energy policy and to address capacity at the Public Service Commission (PSC), was presented to the Senate Natural Resources Committee as a hearing-level item and drew comments about grid capacity, economic development and potential changes to the PSC appointment process.
Senator Stivers, who described the filing as a starting point for a broader energy-policy discussion, told the committee that the state lacks a long-term plan for electric generation and delivery and that large new energy demands — including a recently announced hyperscale data center — underscore the need to examine generation capacity, transmission and the PSC's role. “If we are gonna be competitive in this state and the economic future that I foresee, we are going to have to have an energy policy,” Stivers said.
Senator Stivers and other members noted concerns about whether existing utilities and regional operators could meet large new loads and discussed territory and service-area issues that the PSC oversees. Committee members expressed interest in involving technical experts and acknowledged that the PSC's workload has increased.
Audrey Ernstberger, an attorney and lobbyist with Kentucky Resources Council, told the committee the organization supports many elements of the proposed PSC expansion but opposed a proposal in SB 8 that would give the auditor of public accounts authority to appoint commissioners. Ernstberger said assigning appointment power to the auditor would create a structural conflict with the auditor's statutory oversight duties under KRS Chapter 43 and could undermine public confidence in PSC audits and regulatory independence.
Senators did not vote on SB 8; the sponsor asked only for a hearing to begin the policy discussion. Committee members indicated willingness to hold the conversation and to involve PSC leadership and technical experts in future meetings.
