Michigan Public Service Commission launches monthly podcast to explain energy and telecom work

The Michigan Public Service Commission on its inaugural episode launched a monthly podcast aimed at making regulatory work in energy and telecommunications easier for residents to follow.

"I am Mike Burn, chief operating officer at the commission," the host said, introducing the series and noting commissioners would join to explain their work and answer listener questions. Commissioners Dan Scripps (chair), Katherine Partic and Commissioner Kerion each described technical and public-service backgrounds that the commission said inform its oversight.

Commissioners said the show grew directly from public feedback. "We hosted a public hearing in Flint on August 28" and an advocate suggested a podcast as a way to make the Commission more accessible, Commissioner Katherine Partic said. The communications team had already been developing the idea, she added.

Chair Dan Scripps traced the commission’s lineage to 1873 and its reformation in 1939, underscoring that the agency is "a creature of statute" and operates under legislative authority. He described the commission’s core responsibilities as oversight of electric and natural gas companies, siting decisions for major transmission and renewable projects in coordination with local communities, limited licensing of competitive electric suppliers, and partnerships on broadband mapping and related telecommunications work.

Commissioners emphasized why the work matters: decisions the commission reviews affect nearly every resident and business. "If people wake up in the morning and turn on the lights and lights come on, we've done our job," Scripps said, framing reliability, safety and affordability as the agency’s central goals.

The commissioners also described the podcast’s role alongside existing efforts such as public issue briefs and a monthly newsletter called NPSC Spotlight. They said the audio series will let the commission explain complex orders and invite outside guests to provide additional context from regulators, industry and community advocates.

On the inaugural episode the commissioners also shared their individual paths to the job — from energy law and legislative service to engineering work on energy storage, transportation electrification and sustainability — to explain how their professional backgrounds shape regulatory priorities.

The commission said it plans to publish episodes at least once a month and to use the series to raise awareness about how members of the public can engage with regulatory proceedings and upcoming opportunities to comment. The episode closed with commissioners thanking listeners and inviting continued public input.

Next steps: the commission will continue the podcast monthly, feature guest experts, and point listeners to existing written resources and public dockets for formal participation.