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PUC Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank Appointed Chair Of National Assn. Of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Committee On Natural Gas

On December 20, the Public Utility Commission announced Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank has been appointed Chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Committee on Gas.

This appointment by NARUC President Tricia Pridemore highlights Chairman DeFrank’s leadership and experience in utility regulation and underscores Pennsylvania’s continued role in shaping national utility policies.

The Committee on Gas plays a vital role in fostering awareness and understanding of critical issues impacting the transportation, distribution, and sale of natural gas across the country.

Through panel discussions and educational sessions, the committee works to ensure natural gas services are delivered safely, efficiently, and economically.

Committee members collaborate closely with federal partners, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“Chairman DeFrank’s experience and dedication to public service make him exceptionally qualified to lead NARUC’s Committee on Gas,” said NARUC President Tricia Pridemore. “His understanding of critical energy and infrastructure issues will be invaluable as we continue to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the natural gas sector, and I look forward to working closely with him in this role.”

A Comprehensive Vision for Natural Gas Regulation

As Chair, Chairman DeFrank is committed to ensuring that the Committee on Gas explores every facet of the natural gas industry – from upstream production and midstream transportation to local distribution systems.

“Natural gas is an essential component of the national energy picture,” Chairman DeFrank noted. “By addressing challenges and opportunities across the entire supply chain, we can better support energy reliability, pipeline infrastructure, and economic growth so consumers benefit from safe, affordable, and reliable natural gas services.”

In addition to his new role leading NARUC’s Committee on Gas, Chairman DeFrank serves in several other prominent national leadership positions--

-- Appointed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to the Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations, which oversees the apportioning of regulated costs between interstate and intrastate jurisdictions.

-- Member of NARUC’s Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative and Electric Vehicles State Working Group, helping to advance critical energy initiatives.

-- Board member of the Organization of PJM States (OPSI), providing regulatory oversight and policy coordination for the PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest power grid.

Chairman DeFrank brings decades of experience to his role.

Prior to leading the PUC, Chairman DeFrank spent 24 years in Pennsylvania state government, including leadership roles in the state Senate where he was instrumental in modernizing the Public Utility Code and advancing policies in energy, water, wastewater, and telecommunications.

Since his appointment as PUC Chairman in 2023, Chairman DeFrank has prioritized reliability, affordability, and safety in Pennsylvania’s utility sectors.

NARUC’s committee chairs are appointed for one-year terms and may be reappointed for up to three consecutive terms.

Click Here for the announcement.

Resource Links:

-- PUC Urges Natural Gas Customers To Explore Ways To Reduce Heating Costs; All But One Major Gas Utility Has Increased Cost Of Gas In PA [PaEN]

-- PUC: Natural Gas Distribution Companies Prepare For Winter - Gas Consumption Expected To Decrease 1.8%, Cost For Residential Customers To Increase 1% [PaEN]

-- PUC Celebrates Record-Breaking Year Of Service And Accomplishments In 2024

-- PUC Invites Stakeholder Comments On The Issue Of The Adequacy Of Electricity Supplies In Pennsylvania [PaEN]

-- PUC Encourages Consumers To Prepare For Dec. 1 Electricity Price Changes; Rates Will Vary From 8.4% Decrease To 31.2% Increase [PaEN]

-- PJM CEO Expresses Concern About Electric Generating Capacity: Higher Prices Have Incentivized Some Generators, But Building Gas Generators Has Slowed, Permitting, Supply Chain Issues Hamper Renewables [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 14 to 20 -- Shale Gas Wells Abandoned For 42 Months; Failure To Cleanup Conventional Well Spill For 19 Months; Gas Pipeline Land Slump [PaEN]

-- What The Shale Gas Industry Is Leaving Behind: DEP: Diversified Production LLC Failed To Plug 2 Abandoned Shale Gas Wells For 42 Months + At Least 9 Other Shale Gas Wells Abandoned [PaEN]