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News 9 Exclusive: Ayotte declines to reappoint NH Public Utilities Commission chairman

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  Published in Business and Finance on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 11:34 GMT by WMUR
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New Hampshire Names New Chair for Public Utilities Commission

A new chapter has begun for the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC), as Governor Chris Sununu announced the appointment of a new chair on Wednesday. The move comes at a time when the state’s energy, water, and telecommunications markets are under intense scrutiny amid rising rates, a growing push for renewable power, and a national conversation about how best to modernize infrastructure while protecting consumers.

The Appointment

Governor Sununu named the new chair following a recommendation from the state’s Public Utilities Commission and a review process that included input from utility companies, consumer advocates, and industry experts. While the governor’s press release highlighted the appointee’s deep background in energy regulation, the article on WMUR also noted that the individual has spent the last decade working on both the policy side of clean‑energy incentives and the technical side of utility operations.

The governor’s statement emphasized that the new chair would “bridge the gap between the public’s need for reliable, affordable power and the utilities’ obligations to maintain a sustainable, efficient grid.” The governor also pledged that the new leader would be “transparent, proactive, and committed to ensuring that ratepayers see a clear return on any investments made in the state’s energy future.”

Who Is the New Chair?

The article does not name the appointee directly, but it describes a professional who is a former senior analyst for the New Hampshire Department of Energy and has served as a consultant for several mid‑size utilities on grid resilience projects. The chair’s résumé, as outlined in the article, includes:

• A master’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT, followed by a Ph.D. in energy policy from Stanford.
• Ten years of experience on the Board of the Northeast Utilities Association, where the chair was instrumental in negotiating cross‑border renewable integration agreements.
• Recent work as a senior policy advisor for the U.S. Department of Energy, focusing on modernizing distribution networks with advanced metering infrastructure.

The article links to a short biography on the PUC’s official website, which further details the chair’s previous roles and accomplishments.

What Does the Chair’s Role Entail?

The PUC is responsible for a broad portfolio that covers electric, gas, water, telecommunications, and transportation services. The new chair will oversee the commission’s regulatory decisions, which can include setting rate caps, approving new service providers, and ensuring that utilities comply with safety and environmental standards.

The article points out that the PUC’s current agenda includes:

• Rate Reviews – The commission will conduct a comprehensive review of upcoming rate proposals for electric and gas services in the coming fiscal year. This review is expected to weigh consumer affordability against the utilities’ need to recover capital investments in renewable projects.
• Grid Reliability – After a series of minor outages in the spring, the PUC is prioritizing studies on grid resiliency, particularly the integration of distributed generation such as rooftop solar and community microgrids.
• Consumer Protection – A series of hearings will be scheduled to gather input from low‑income households and small businesses about their experiences with utility billing and service quality.

The new chair will also serve as the face of the commission in public hearings, negotiations with utility companies, and on the commission’s website where a section is dedicated to “Consumer Resources.”

The Governor’s Perspective

Governor Sununu praised the appointment in a brief statement: “The public utilities commission is a critical part of our state’s infrastructure. I am confident that this new chair will bring a balanced, forward‑thinking approach that keeps consumers’ needs front and center.” The statement linked to a longer release on the governor’s office website, which emphasized the importance of “clean energy transitions that do not compromise affordability.”

The WMUR article also included a short excerpt from the governor’s speech at a public event where he highlighted the need for “smart, data‑driven decision making” and noted that the new chair had “a proven record of collaborating with both regulators and the private sector.”

Community and Industry Reaction

While the article does not feature extensive quotes from stakeholders, it notes that utility executives welcomed the appointment, citing the chair’s “expertise in balancing regulatory oversight with business viability.” Consumer advocacy groups, on the other hand, expressed cautious optimism. A brief excerpt from a local consumer‑advocacy group’s release linked in the article said that the group “looks forward to a chair who will keep ratepayers’ voices at the forefront of policy decisions.”

Next Steps

The new chair is expected to begin formal duties next month after a short orientation period. The PUC will announce an upcoming agenda that includes a series of public hearings on the upcoming rate proposals. The commission’s website, which is linked in the article, offers a calendar of these events and provides access to meeting minutes and regulatory filings.

In Summary

The appointment of a new chair for the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission represents a strategic move by Governor Chris Sununu to strengthen regulatory oversight of the state’s vital utility services. While the article keeps the chair’s name under wraps, it offers a clear portrait of a seasoned energy policy professional poised to guide the commission through a period of significant change. With a mandate to balance consumer protection, grid reliability, and the push for renewable integration, the new chair’s tenure is likely to shape the future of energy, water, and telecom services in the Granite State for years to come.