On Nov. 3, elections are happening in nine states for public service commissions. Gubernatorial elections are happening in 30 other states where the governor appoints members to their state’s commission, and state legislative elections are happening in one state — South Carolina — where the Legislature appoints members.
All 50 states have public service commissions that serve as the chief regulators of utilities, including energy, telecommunications, and water. Voters elect commissioners in 10 states, and governors or legislators appoint commissioners in 40 states.
Republicans have majorities on all nine commissions whose members are up for election this year. Overall, Republicans control 10 commissions, Democrats control one, and 39 are nonpartisan.
