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Public Utilities and Services Commission urges stronger oversight, staffing and resources
Summary
The chair of Richmond’s Public Utilities and Services Commission told the Governmental Operations committee the commission lacks resources and staff to provide consistent oversight and recommended a better‑resourced auditing model and clearer roles for long‑term utility oversight.
Kevin (chair, Public Utilities and Services Commission) told the Governmental Operations Standing Committee on Jan. 13 that the newly reconstituted Public Utilities and Services Commission has produced an October report that identifies structural challenges, including quorum problems, limited volunteer capacity and insufficient staff and budget to perform sustained oversight of Richmond utilities.
The commission’s October report, the chair said, urged continued advocacy for state funding for the city’s combined sewer overflow projects and highlighted a shortfall in resources necessary to hold frequent, detailed oversight of operations and capital plans. The chair noted the commission had difficulty attaining quorums early in its work because three seats remained vacant; those seats have since been filled.
The chair described a gap between the level of expertise and staff resources available to state and federal regulators and what Richmond’s commission can currently offer. He suggested models for expanded oversight, including expanding the city auditor’s office with specialized staff or creating a standing body modeled after the Government Accountability Office to provide ongoing, technical assessments of utility performance.
The commission chair also said the recent water outage and a separate gas outage on Janke Road highlighted the need for continuous oversight rather than a one‑off review. He urged the city to consider how to resource the commission so it can perform proactive investigations and follow up on reports, such as the 2022 EPA findings previously shared with the council.
The commission invited the public and council members to its Jan. 30 meeting and said it expects DPU leadership to attend to answer commissioners’ questions about the water crisis. The chair asked the committee to consider changes that would provide consistent staffing, a realistic budget and staff expertise for the commission to perform its duties.
