House approves its PSC reform bill, sends to Senate

A bill to have a study commission look at revising the structure of the Public Service Commission and imposing new limits on off-the-record conversations between PSC staff members and utilities passed the House and went to the Senate.

The measure also imposes new education requirements on PSC commissioners, setting a high hurdle for commission chairwoman Nancy Argenziano to win reappointment.

The chambers now must work out the differences, particularly how to define the ex parte communications between utilities and the PSC staff members. The Senate adopts the approach of a 1992 grand jury approach and imposes penalties on utility officials who violate the rule. The House imposes the penalties on the PSC commissioners who violate the rule.

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