Florida Governor Rick Scott has reappointed Lisa Edgar to the Public Service Commission. Edgar is the longest serving member on the state’s panel of utility regulators, but some say the state needs new blood, not experience.
Lisa Edgar has served on the Public Service Commission since Governor Jeb Bush appointed her in 2005. She’s the longest serving commissioner on the state’s panel. Some say that means she brings valuable experience to the table, but others, like Republican Senator Mike Fasano say Edgar is a “remnant of the ‘old guard.’”
“I’ve always been a critic of hers because of her voting record,” Fasano said.
Fasano said for a utility regulator, he feels Edgar sides too often with the utilities, adding that really came to his attention when the commission dealt with a private utility company in Pasco County that was called Aloha. He also pointed to what he calls her “coziness” with utility companies. And Fasano has even gone so far as to call for Edgar to resign. But Edgar says she feels she’s served Fasano's area well, and said she looks forward to continuing to work with the senator.
“I hope to meet with him soon and I will try to work with him soon in any way that I can,” Edgar said.
A look at the commission’s voting records dating from January 2009 to March 2012 showed Edgar has voted with the majority at most meetings—meaning she’s voting on most issues the same way the rest of the commission is. Recently, the commission has mostly voted unanimously in favor of whatever its staff recommends. Edgar says commissioners spend a lot time before the public meetings considering each issue.
“And so when we are at the hearings and we have the opportunity to speak together in a public hearing and hear each other’s questions, generally we can, if we are trying to work together, we can reach a consensus that pretty much addresses any concerns that may have been raised and can also form a positive decision.”
Fasano wrote a letter to Florida Governor Rick Scott, who is responsible for appointing Public Service Commissioners, asking him to select someone else for the $130,000 a year job at the end of Edgar’s term, but Scott said during an earlier press conference he hadn't given the note a lot of thought.
“I get letters all the time. I get letters for things, against things every day,” Scott said.
Scott said he wants utility regulators who are willing to really dig into the issues and make informed decisions.
“I want them to get information and make a good decision. Don’t have a preconceived notion, but go get the information. You know, think about our utilities, we want to keep rates as low as possible, but we do want to make sure the utilities have the capital to provide the service we all need. We want our utilities on 24-hours a day," Scott said.
Scott said he thinks Edgar has proven to vote fairly and he counts her experience as a plus. The final decision on whether Edgar will keep her job is now up to the Senate.
