Public utilities commission

A public utilities commission is a quasi-governmental body that provides oversight and/or regulation of public utilities in a particular area (locality, municipality, or subnational division), especially in the United States and Canada.

The utilities in question may be owned by the consumers that it serves, a mutual utility like a public utility district, a state-owned utility, or it may be a stockholder-owned utility either publicly traded on a stock exchange or closely held among just a few investors. These utilities often operate as legal monopolies, which means that they do not compete in a marketplace but are instead regulated by commissions to ensure fair pricing.

Canada

In Canada, a public utilities commission (PUC) is a public utility regulator, typically a semi-independent quasi-judicial tribunal, owned and operated within a municipal or local government system under the oversight of one or more elected commissioners. ^[1] Its role is analogous to a municipal utility district or public utility district in the US.

Below are the PUCs in Canada:

• Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities (Newfoundland and Labrador) ^[2]
• British Columbia Utilities Commission ^[3]
• Manitoba Public Utilities Board ^[4]
• New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board ^[5]
• Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board ^[6]
• Ontario Energy Board ^[7]
• PEI Regulatory and Appeals Commission ^[8]

Former commissions in Ontario include:

• Berlin Public Utilities Commission (1906–1916) in Berlin, Ontario
• Brantford Public Utilities Commission (–2001) in Brantford, Ontario
• Galt Public Utilities Commission (1962–1973) in Galt, Ontario
• Kitchener Public Utilities Commission (1916–1973)

United States

  Appointed by governor

  Appointed by legislature

  Election by single-winner district

  Election at-large for all members

  Election at-large from residency districts; suspended as of 19 August 2022

In the United States, a public utilities commission (PUC), which may also be named a public service commission (PSC), corporation commission, or similar, is a governing body that regulates the rates and services of a public utility, such as an electric utility. In some cases, government bodies with the title "public service commission" may be civil service oversight bodies, rather than utilities regulators.

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners ^[9] is the national association representing the interests of the public utilities commissions in all 50 states. The Interstate Commerce Commission and Federal Communications Commission perform similar functions in their respective fields in the United States.

The first state utility regulator was the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, founded in 1907 under Governor Robert M. La Follette to set minimum standards and regulate rates of monopoly utilities. ^[10]

PUCs in the US by state

Jurisdiction	Organization	Members	Selection of commissioners
Mississippi	Mississippi Public Service Commission [11]	3	Elected by district
Montana	Montana Public Service Commission [12]	5	Elected by district
Nebraska	Nebraska Public Service Commission [13]	5	Elected by district
Alabama	Alabama Public Service Commission [14]	3	Elected at-large
Arizona	Arizona Corporation Commission [15]	5	Elected at-large
New Mexico	New Mexico Public Regulation Commission [16]	3	Appointed by the governor
Louisiana	Louisiana Public Service Commission [17]	5	Elected by district
North Dakota	North Dakota Public Service Commission [18]	3	Elected at-large
Oklahoma	Oklahoma Corporation Commission [19]	3	Elected at-large
South Dakota	South Dakota Public Utilities Commission [20]	3	Elected at-large
Alaska	Regulatory Commission of Alaska [21]		Appointed by the governor
Arkansas	Arkansas Public Service Commission [22]	3	Appointed by the governor
California	California Public Utilities Commission [23]	5	Appointed by the governor
South Carolina	South Carolina Public Service Commission [24]	7	Legislative appointment
Colorado	Colorado Public Utilities Commission [25]	3	Appointed by the governor
Connecticut	Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority [26]		Appointed by the governor
Delaware	Delaware Public Service Commission [27]	5	Appointed by the governor
DC	District of Columbia Public Service Commission [28]	3	Appointed by the mayor
Florida	Florida Public Service Commission [29]	5	Appointed by the governor
Georgia (U.S. state)	Georgia Public Service Commission [30]	5	Elected at-large from residency districts
Hawaii	Hawaii Public Utilities Commission [31]	3	Appointed by the governor
Idaho	Idaho Public Utilities Commission [32]	3	Appointed by the governor
Illinois	Illinois Commerce Commission [33]	5	Appointed by the governor
Indiana	Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission [34]	5	Appointed by the governor
Iowa	Iowa Utilities Board [35]	3	Appointed by the governor
Kansas	Kansas Corporation Commission [36]	3	Appointed by the governor
Kentucky	Kentucky Public Service Commission [37]	3	Appointed by the governor
Maine	Maine Public Utilities Commission [38]	3	Appointed by the governor
Maryland	Maryland Public Service Commission [39]	5	Appointed by the governor
Massachusetts	Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities [40]	3	Appointed by the governor
Massachusetts	Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable [41]		Appointed by the governor
Michigan	Michigan Public Service Commission [42]	3	Appointed by the governor
Minnesota	Minnesota Public Utilities Commission [43]	5	Appointed by the governor
Missouri	Missouri Public Service Commission [44]	5	Appointed by the governor
Nevada	Nevada Public Utilities Commission [45]	3	Appointed by the governor
New Hampshire	New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission [46]	3	Appointed by the governor
New Jersey	New Jersey Board of Public Utilities [47]	5	Appointed by the governor
New York	New York Public Service Commission [48]	7	Appointed by the governor
North Carolina	North Carolina Utilities Commission [49]	7	Appointed by the governor
Ohio	Public Utilities Commission of Ohio [50]	5	Appointed by the governor
Oregon	Oregon Public Utility Commission [51]	3	Appointed by the governor
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission [52]		Appointed by the governor
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission [53]		Appointed by the governor
Tennessee	Tennessee Public Service Commission (1897–1996) Tennessee Regulatory Authority (since 1996)	3	Appointed by the governor
Texas	Railroad Commission of Texas [54]	3	Elected at-large
Texas	Texas Public Utility Commission [55]	5	Appointed by the governor
Utah	Utah Public Service Commission [56]	3	Appointed by the governor
Vermont	Vermont Department of Public Service [57]		Appointed by the governor
Vermont	Vermont Public Utility Commission [58]	3	Appointed by the governor
Virginia	Virginia State Corporation Commission [59]	3	Legislative appointment
Virgin Islands	Virgin Islands Public Services Commission [60]	5	Appointed by the governor, with two additional ex-officio members appointed by the senate president
Washington	Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission [61]	3	Appointed by the governor
West Virginia	West Virginia Public Service Commission [62]	3	Appointed by the governor
Wisconsin	Public Service Commission of Wisconsin [63]	3	Appointed by the governor
Wyoming	Wyoming Public Service Commission [64]	3	Appointed by the governor

Local PUCs

Jurisdiction	Organization	Members	Selection of commissioners
San Francisco	San Francisco Public Utilities Commission [65]	3	Nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by the SF Board of Supervisors

Other countries

Americas

• Bahamas: Bahamas Public Utilities Commission ^[66]
• Belize: Belize Public Utilities Commission ^[67]
• Caribbean: Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR) ^[68]
• Chile: Superintendencia de Servicios Sanitarios de Chile ^[69]
• Costa Rica: Costa Rica Public Utilities Commission ^[70]
• Dominican Republic: c Utilities Commission

Others

• France: Commission de Régulation de l'Energie ^[71]
• Ghana: Public Utility Regulation Council of Ghana (PURC) ^[72]
• Sri Lanka: Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka ^[73]

References

1. Alleckna, Matthias (2020-02-10). "A Guide to All Provincial Utility Commissions in Canada". EnergyRates.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
2. "Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities". www.pub.nf.ca. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
3. "Welcome to the British Columbia Utilties Commission | British Columbia Utilities Commission - BCUC". www.bcuc.com. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
4. "Province of Manitoba | v1 - PUB". www.pubmanitoba.ca. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
5. "New Brunswick Energy & Utilities Board - Home". nbeub.ca. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
6. "Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board | Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board". nsuarb.novascotia.ca. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
7. "Home | Ontario Energy Board". www.oeb.ca. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
8. Toolkit, Web Experience (Jan 11, 2018). "Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission". www.princeedwardisland.ca. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
9. "Home". NARUC.
10. "Utility monopolies still reign in the South". Southern Environmental Law Center. January 29, 2024.
11. "Home | MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION". www.psc.ms.gov. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
12. "Montana Public Service Commission". Archived from the original on 1996-12-22. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
13. "Nebraska Public Service Commission". psc.nebraska.gov. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
14. "APSC – New Alabama PSC Website". psc.alabama.gov. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
15. "Arizona Corporation Commission". cc.state.az.us. 2010-03-22. Archived from the original on 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
16. "Home". www.nm-prc.org. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
17. "LPSC - Home". www.lpsc.louisiana.gov. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
18. "Home: Public Service Commission, North Dakota". psc.nd.gov. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
19. "Oklahoma Corporation Commission Home Page". Archived from the original on 2007-12-26. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
20. "South Dakota Public Utilities Commission". puc.sd.gov. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
21. "About the Regulatory Commission of Alaska". rca.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
22. "Arkansas Public Service Commission - Homepage". state.ar.us.
23. "California Public Utilities Commission". cpuc.ca.gov.
24. "Welcome to Public Service Commission of South Carolina". psc.state.sc.us. Archived from the original on 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
25. "Colorado Public Utilities Commission Home Page". Archived from the original on 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
26. "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority". CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website.
27. Delaware, The State of. "Delaware.gov - Official Website of the State of Delaware". delaware.gov - Official Website of the State of Delaware.
28. "DCPSC - Home". dcpsc.org.
29. "Welcome to the PSC Web Site - Florida Public Service Commission". psc.state.fl.us.
30. "Home | Georgia Public Commission". psc.ga.gov. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
31. "Public Utilities Commission". puc.hawaii.gov.
32. "IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION HOMEPAGE". 2010-02-25. Archived from the original on 2010-02-25.
33. "Illinois Commerce Commission". icc.illinois.gov.
34. "Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission". 2006-07-30. Archived from the original on 2006-07-30.
35. "Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) | Welcome". 2008-09-15. Archived from the original on 2008-09-15.
36. "Kansas Corporation Commission". kcc.ks.gov.
37. "KY PSC Home". psc.ky.gov.
38. "Maine Public Utilities Commission Homepage | MPUC". maine.gov.
39. @ColumbiaGasMD. "PSC 01-01-14 - Maryland Public Service Commission". Psc.state.md.us. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
40. "Department of Public Utilities | Mass.gov". mass.gov.
41. "Department of Telecommunications and Cable | Mass.gov". mass.gov.
42. "MPSC". michigan.gov.
43. "ShieldSquare Captcha". mn.gov.
44. "Missouri Public Service Commission Redirect". 2002-06-04. Archived from the original on 2002-06-04.
45. "State of Nevada -". 2007-06-12. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12.
46. "New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission". puc.nh.gov.
47. "NJ Board of Public Utilities". nj.gov.
48. "NYS Department of Public Service". dps.ny.gov.
49. "NCUC Home Page". 2010-04-16. Archived from the original on 2010-04-16.
50. "Public Utilities Commission of Ohio". www.puco.ohio.gov. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
51. "Current Issues". Archived from the original on 2005-10-13.
52. "Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission | Regulating Utility Services". PA PUC.
53. "RIPUC". ripuc.ri.gov.
54. "The Railroad Commission of Texas". www.rrc.texas.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
55. "Public Utility Commission of Texas". Puc.state.tx.us. 2020-03-16. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
56. "Utah Public Service Commission -". 2010-02-19. Archived from the original on 2010-02-19.
57. "Department of Public Service". publicservice.vermont.gov.
58. "Home | Public Utility Commission". puc.vermont.gov.
59. "Virginia State Corporation Commission". Archived from the original on 2004-12-09. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
60. "United States Virgin Islands Public Services Commission". Archived from the original on 2025-01-15.
61. "Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Home Page". Archived from the original on 2010-04-01.
62. "Public Service Commission of West Virginia". psc.state.wv.us.
63. "PSC Homepage". psc.wi.gov.
64. "WY Public Service Commission". psc.wyo.gov.
65. "San Francisco Water Power Sewer | SFPUC". sfpuc.org. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
66. "The Public Utilities Commission of The Bahamas Home Page". Archived from the original on 2008-10-17. Retrieved 2005-10-15.
67. "Belize Public Utilities Commission - Belize Public Utilities Commission". www.puc.bz. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
68. "Home" . Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
69. "Pagina de Ingreso a la SISS". Archived from the original on 1998-12-05. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
70. "Unknown".^{[ permanent dead link ]}
71. "Page d'accueil". www.cre.fr. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
72. "PURC". www.purc.com.gh. Retrieved Sep 15, 2022.
73. "Public Interest Program Unit (PIPU)". Archived from the original on 2003-10-12. Retrieved 2025-04-07.

External links

• Public Service Commissioner (state executive office) - List of current commissioners from Ballotpedia
• List of regulatory commissions by state compiled by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.