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Public Utilities and Services Commission calls for more resources and clearer oversight after water crisis
Summary
The commission’s chair said the body needs staff, budget and clearer authority to provide continuous utility oversight, urged public input and announced a Jan. 30 meeting where DPU leadership will answer questions about the recent outage.
Kevin Sanfrani, chair of Richmond’s Public Utilities and Services Commission, told the Governmental Operations Standing Committee that the commission’s limited budget and volunteer staffing hamper its ability to provide continuous oversight of city utilities and prevent future failures.
“The water crisis has stress tested [the commission’s] structure and capabilities and exposed where improvements should be made,” Sanfrani said. He said the commission’s October 2024 report highlighted two priorities: continued advocacy for grant funding for combined sewer overflow upgrades and resolution of quorum and staffing constraints after the mayor filled three open commissioner seats.
Sanfrani said the commission operates with a $5,000 budget and minimal staff allocation and cannot reasonably match the technical resources of larger regulators. He suggested the city consider models that provide stable staff and analytic capacity — for example, expanding the Office of the City Auditor or creating a staffed oversight office with engineering and finance expertise.
The commission chair gave several concrete items the body is pursuing: developing more specific recommendations on staffing and budget needs for effective oversight; engaging the public and regional partners; and inviting DPU leadership to the commission’s Jan. 30 meeting at 3 p.m. at the main library, where commissioners expect to question utility leaders about the recent outage.
Sanfrani also noted the commission’s role in regional issues such as Richmond Gas Works and said oversight should complement rather than duplicate state and federal regulators. He pointed to a recent local gas service outage near Jenks Road as an example of other utility incidents that underscore the need for stronger, ongoing oversight.
Committee members supported further study and encouraged the commission to produce specific, implementable recommendations on funding levels, staffing and transparency measures so council and the mayor can act promptly. Sanfrani said the commission is preparing follow‑up material and invited the public to send comments to rva.pusc@gmail.com.
The committee did not take formal action on the commission’s recommendations during the meeting.
