North Carolina Utilities Commission
| North Carolina Utilities Commission | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $153,187 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $10,230,749 |
| Total Seats: | 7 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 6 years |
| Authority: | NC Gen Stat § 62-2 |
| Leadership: | Floyd McKissick |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
| William Brawley, Kimberly Duffley, Jeffrey Hughes, Karen Kemerait, Floyd McKissick, Tommy Tucker | |
| Other North Carolina Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The North Carolina Utilities Commission is a seven-person executive board in the North Carolina state government. The commission is charged with regulating the rates, services, and operations of investor-owned public utilities such as electricity, telephone service, natural gas, and water.[1]
Commissioners are appointed by the governor with the consent of the General Assembly to serve six-year terms. The governor also designates a chair to serve a four-year term as head of the commission.[1]
Current officeholders
The current officeholders are:
- William Brawley (nonpartisan)
- Kimberly Duffley (nonpartisan)
- Jeffrey Hughes (nonpartisan)
- Karen Kemerait (nonpartisan)
- Floyd McKissick (nonpartisan)
- Tommy Tucker (nonpartisan)
One seat is vacant. It was last held by Charlotte Mitchell (nonpartisan).
Authority
The utilities commission's authority, power, and scope are derived from Chapter 62, Article 1 of the North Carolina General Statutes.
Chapter 62, Article 1:
| [A]uthority shall be vested in the North Carolina Utilities Commission to regulate public utilities generally, their rates, services and operations, and their expansion in relation to long-term energy conservation and management policies and statewide development requirements, and in the manner and in accordance with the policies set forth in this Chapter. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to imply any extension of Utilities Commission regulatory jurisdiction over any industry or enterprise that is not subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of said Commission.[2] |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for this office, but, before taking office, commissioners must file an oath of office declaring that he or she is not the agent, attorney, or employee of any public utility and that he or she owns no interest in any public utility.[3]
Appointments
The commissioners are appointed by the governor, with the consent of the general assembly, to six-year terms. The chair is designated by the governor and serves as the head of the commission for four years.[1] If the governor does not submit a nomination on or before May 1 of the year a commissioner's term expires, the lieutenant governor and speaker of the House must jointly submit a nomination to the General Assembly. Confirmation of commissioners must occur before the end of the then-current legislative session.[4]
Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy in the office, the governor appoints a new commissioner to finish the unexpired term of the vacated position. That individual may, then, be re-appointed to a full term.[4] If the governor does not submit a nomination within four weeks after the vacancy, the lieutenant governor and speaker of the House must jointly submit a nomination. Confirmation of vacancy appoints must occur before the end of the then-current legislative session.[4]
Duties
The utilities commission is charged with regulating the rates, services, and operations of investor-owned public utilities such as electricity, telephone service, natural gas, and water.[1] Additional duties of the commission include, but are not limited to:[1]
- Promoting least-cost energy planning;
- Assuring that facilities necessary for future growth can be financed on fair and reasonable terms;
- Coordinating energy supply facilities with the state's development;
- Cooperating with the federal government and other states in providing interstate services;
- Facilitating the construction of facilities in and the extension of natural gas service to unserved areas; and
- Implementing a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard in order to promote the development of renewable energy.
Divisions
The utilities commission consists of the following divisions:[5]
- Clerks and IT Services
- Fiscal Management
- Human Resources
- Legal
- Operations
State budget
- See also: North Carolina state budget and finances
The budget for the utilities commission in Fiscal Year 2024 was $10,230,749.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, each commissioner received a salary of $153,187, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, each commissioner received a salary of $153,187, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, each commissioner received a salary of $153,187, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, each commissioner received a salary of $149,451, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, each commissioner received a salary of $141,947, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, each commissioner received a salary of $141,947, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, each commissioner received a salary of $141,947, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, each commissioner received a salary of $139,849, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, each commissioner received a salary of $139,849, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, each commissioner received a salary of $138,849, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, each commissioner received a salary of $138,849.[17]
2010
In 2010, each commissioner received a salary of $123,936, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the North Carolina Utilities Commission has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms North Carolina Utilities Commission. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Physical Address:
430 North Salisbury Street
Dobbs Building, 5th Floor
Raleigh, NC 27603-5918
Mailing Address:
4325 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4300
Phone: 919-733-7328
Fax: 919-733-7300
Email: Contact form
See also
| North Carolina | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 North Carolina Utilities Commission, "About the NC Utilities Commission," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "NC Gen Stat § 62-2 (2019)," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "NC Gen Stat § 62-11 (2019)," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Justia, "NC Gen Stat § 62-10 (2019)," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ North Carolina Utilities Commission, "Staff Directory," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ North Carolina Utilities Commission, "North Carolina's Public Utility Infrastructure & Regulatory Climate," accessed December 11, 2024
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States," Sept. 30, 2020
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed December 3, 2017
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed April 23, 2011
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