Kentucky commission manages its staff and joins power project reviews

The Public Service Commission has five members appointed by the Governor. Two members must be licensed attorneys with at least seven years of active Kentucky law practice. Three must have relevant education or training and five years of experience in listed fields. The Senate must confirm appointments and reappointments. No more than three commissioners may belong to the same political party. After the initial appointments, members serve four-year terms and may serve no more than three terms. Earlier terms do not count toward that limit. The Governor must appoint two members within 30 days of the effective date, for terms ending July 1, 2028.

The commission decides what cabinet support it needs and may set pay for categories of professional employees. These provisions concern the commission’s support, professional staff, purchases, and contracted help. The commission follows state procurement procedures, but Finance and Administration Cabinet officials do not approve its procurement steps. It may hire hearing officers and other help by contract as needed; personal service contracts go to the Government Contract Review Committee for review. Other noncontract employees remain subject to state personnel rules.

The Kentucky State Board on Electric Generation and Transmission Siting has nine members, including five Public Service Commission members. The board reviews applications for proposed electric generation and transmission facilities. The board also includes two cabinet officials or their designees and two local public members chosen based on the county or counties where a facility is proposed. Local public members serve until the facility begins generating electricity for sale or its construction certificate expires.

Certain providers may include a school tax in customer rates and must show it separately on bills. This provision covers utilities, cable service providers, and satellite broadcast and wireless cable service providers that owe the specified school tax. A provider may raise rates only in a school district where it owes the specified school tax. The increase may not exceed three percent, and bills must label it “Rate increase for school tax.”