Governor Haslam and the Tennessee General Assembly approved legislation this month that changes the name of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC).
The bill was sponsored by State Senator, Jack Johnson and State Representative, Pat Marsh during the 2017 Tennessee General Assembly’s legislative session and it became effective upon becoming law.
In addition to changing the regulatory agency’s name, the bill also redesignates the organization’s five-member leadership board from Directors to Commissioners. The bill was introduced in order to bring Tennessee in line with its counterparts across the country.
“The name change is significant because it more clearly identifies the nature of what we do,” said TPUC Commissioner David F. Jones. “And notwithstanding the change, consumers and industry alike can expect the same level of commitment and service that they have come to expect.”
TPUC Executive Director Earl Taylor said, “Several other state commissions around the country are referred to as Public Utility Commissions with its leading officers referred to as Commissioners. This change was made to align Tennessee with industry standards that are common nationwide.”
The mission of the newly named Tennessee Public Utility Commission will remain the same as its predecessor, the TRA. The agency was established to provide regulatory oversight of Tennessee’s investor-owned public utility companies.