KRS 278.038: Public Service Commission -- Appointments -- Membership -- Vacancies --

Limitations.

(1) The Public Service Commission shall consist of five (5) members appointed by the

Governor as follows:

(a) Two (2) shall be licensed attorneys who have active ly practiced law in the

Commonwealth for at least seven (7) years; and

(b) Three (3) shall have education or training, and five (5) years of actual

experience, in one (1) or more of the following fields:

1. Economics;

2. Engineering;

3. Accounting;

4. Finance;

5. Utility regulation, operation, or management;

6. Pipeline or utility infrastructure safety;

7. Business management; or

8. Environmental management.

(2) Appointments and re appointments to the commission shall be subject to

confirmation by the Senate as provided in KRS 11.160.

(3) (a) Every four (4) years, the commissioners shall elect a chair from among the

commissioners, who shall serve a four (4) year term or until his or her term

expires without reappointment, whichever comes first.

(b) Members of the commission may serve multiple terms as chair subject to the

term limitations set forth in subsection (5) of this section.

(c) The chair shall be the chief executive officer o f the commission and shall

designate one (1) of the commissioners to serve as vice chair to act for the

chair in his or her absence.

(d) The chair may designate in writing one (1) or more commissioners or the

executive director to act for him or her in the event of his or her absence or

inability for any reason to discharge the duties of the position. The designee of

the chair shall have all of the duties and powers of the chair for the duration of

the designation, except that the executive director shall n ot serve as a member

of the commission on any cases before the commission.

(4) Vacancies for unexpired terms shall be filled in the same manner as the original

appointments, but the appointee shall hold office only until the end of the unexpired

term and shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate as provided in KRS 11.160.

(5) Members of the commission shall serve no more than three (3) terms, but any terms

or partial terms served prior to April 15, 2026, shall not be counted toward the term

limits established by this subsection.

(6) After the initial appointments, a member of the commission shall serve for a term of

four (4) years and until a successor is appointed and qualified.

(7) No more than three (3) members of the commission shall be of the same political

party, and members of the commission shall not serve on any other regulatory

bodies during their terms on the commission.