Contact: Regina Davis, 202-898-9382, rdavis@naruc.org

North Carolina Commissioner Kim Duffley and Texas Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright Move into New Leadership Roles

WASHINGTON (September 19, 2023) — The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners President Michael A. Caron has appointed new chairs for the Committee on Electricity and the Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety, tapping Commissioner Kim Duffley of North Carolina and Jim Wright of Texas, respectively.

Duffley, who replaces Minnesota Commissioner Matt Schuerger in her new role, has served as a commissioner at the North Carolina Utilities Commission since 2019. She was previously an NCUC senior staff attorney and was an assistant attorney general in the Environmental Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Prior to becoming the chair, she was the co-vice chair of the Committee on Electricity and she is co-chair of the Federal-State Joint Task Force on Electric Transmission, as well as a member of the Nuclear Energy Partnership and the Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative.

“I am honored to be appointed to lead the Committee on Electricity during this dynamic and critical time. I look forward to engaging with my fellow commissioners to promote effective regulation to serve the public interest,” said Duffley.

Wright replaces Georgia Commissioner Tricia Pridemore as the chair of the Pipeline Safety Committee. He was elected to the Railroad Commission of Texas in November 2020 and serves on the NARUC Committee on Gas. He is the proprietor of oilfield services companies.

“It is an honor to be appointed as Chairman of NARUC’s Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety,” said Wright. “Ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of energy to consumers and market participants is vital to the continued success of our national economy. I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to discuss the current challenges facing our nation’s critical infrastructure and consider how emerging technologies and fuel sources may impact pipeline safety in the future.” 

“NARUC is fortunate to have such strong leadership at the helm of these two very important committees,” said Caron. “We are also grateful to Commissioners Schuerger and Pridemore for their outstanding service on these committees.”

The commissioners assumed their new roles on September 15. NARUC's eight standing committees propose resolutions that, if approved by the Board of Directors, set Association policy on congressional, federal and industry matters. These committees, populated by state public service commissioners, also hold educational sessions and panel discussions on relevant issues to best serve NARUC members.

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About NARUC

NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC’s member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of state public utility commissions before the three branches of the federal government.