Kentucky PSC
Gwen Pinson is the Executive Director, and John Lyons is the Deputy Executive Director, of the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
It was a bright, crisp winter day when Public Utilities Fortnightly went to Kentucky's capital to meet with the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Despite the snow on the ground, we had a warm welcome inside. PUF met with the PSC's three commissioners and its staff.
PUF: What is your typical day like?
Gwen Pinson: My role is to oversee the Staff, make sure that the Staff supports the Commissioners in all respects, and that the Commissioners have all the support they need.
Sort of a liaison between the Staff and the Commissioners. In addition, though the PSC is an independent agency, we're administratively attached to the Energy and Environment cabinet. John and I take turns going to Staff meetings up there. He helps me cover those. We help the Commission stay in touch with what's going on up there and across the administration.
PUF: What is that like? There are people there from different agencies?
Gwen Pinson: Yes, the cabinet is divided into the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection, which are their two main departments. Below those, they've got a lot of different offices and divisions, such as the Division of Water and the Division of Air Quality. There are some overlapping missions, but we try to coordinate so as to avoid duplicate regulation.