Townsend introduces bill to put consumer member on PUC

Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, introduced a bill Wednesday that would make one member of the Public Utilities Commission a consumer representative.

He said SB102 had been requested by senior advocates.

"It adds a consumer to the board and then makes them chair of the board, if it's not expanded to five members," he said.

Townsend said the bill includes provisions designed to ensure that major decisions by the PUC aren't made with just two commissioners. If there is a vacancy, it requires abstention or disqualification of one commissioner. The governor must then appoint someone else.

"That's so that, under a three-member board, an issue will always get three votes," he said.

The measure was referred to the Commerce and Labor Committee, which Townsend leads, for study.