Contact: Scott Bolden, 202-898-8083, sbolden@naruc.org

South Dakota PUC Commissioner Nelson Appointed Co-Chair
of the Washington Action Program

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners has appointed South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Chris Nelson to serve as co-chair of the Washington Action Program along with North Carolina Commissioner ToNola D. Brown-Bland.

WAP serves as the Association's barometer on the utility-related activities in and throughout the nation’s Capital. The program provides a framework for improving the credibility, visibility and effectiveness of NARUC before Congress, the Executive Branch, the media and with other stakeholder organizations.

Commissioner Nelson was appointed to the South Dakota PUC in 2011 and re-elected in 2016. He served as the PUC's chairman in 2012, 2015 and 2016 and as vice chairman in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

He has been appointed by the Federal Communications Commission to the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, representing the interests of NARUC as state chairman of the board. Additionally, he has served as past chairman of NARUC’s Committee on Telecommunications and is currently on the board of directors for the National Regulatory Research Institute.

“I’m honored to be selected by NARUC President Nick Wagner and to serve alongside Commissioner Brown-Bland. I look forward to contributing to the Capitol Hill advocacy efforts that impact how state commissions are allowed to do their jobs,” said Nelson. “Through this position, I hope to help articulate the needs of South Dakota ratepayers on a national scale.”

“We are excited to appoint Commissioner Nelson as co-chair to the Washington Action Program,” said Wagner. “His thoughtful and deliberate approach, coupled with his knowledge of federal and state regulation will provide great leadership to our highly competent and skilled group of state regulators from across the country who keep us informed and focused on issues that are most relevant to our 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.