Dive Brief:
- Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has tapped a member of his cabinet to serve on the Public Utilities Commission, replacing Paul Thomsen who resigned earlier this year.
- Bruce Breslow currently serves as director of the Department of Business and Industry. His appointment to the PUC is effective Sept. 5.
- Sandoval called Breslow a "seasoned regulator" in a statement announcing the appointment. Breslow currently oversees 14 state regulatory and administrative divisions.
Dive Insight:
The Nevada PUC will soon have a full slate of commissioners, and none of them were involved in the contentious net metering debate two years ago.
Breslow has a wide range of experience: he has served as the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the executive director of the Nevada's Agency for Nuclear Projects, and as a commissioner of the Transportation Services Authority. He was also the mayor of Sparks, Nev., for two terms during the 1990s.
“Bruce has served in my administration since day one and has served as a thoughtful problem solver as a member of my Cabinet," Sandoval said in a statement. "He is a seasoned regulator and I know he will do a fine job as the PUCN continues to make important decisions related to Nevada’s energy future."
Thomsen, who resigned in May, led the PUC during the last segment of Nevada's contentious net metering debate which resulted in reducing the compensation retail rate. Since then, the unpopular decision has largely been reversed and net metering closely restored to the original retail rate.
