Power players: GOP state commissioners take on national energy leadership roles

By EPN Staff

Four new state utility commissioners have been appointed to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ (NARUC) Board of Directors, the association announced earlier this month.

Georgia Commissioner and NARUC President Tricia Pridemore made the appointments – all Republicans  – to the 36-member board that represents the state public service commissioners (PSCs) who set utility regulations nationwide.

“We are so pleased to welcome all of these highly qualified and well-rounded public servants to the board of directors and committees. They each bring unique talents and perspectives that will help shape and enrich the mission of the Association,” Pridemore said.

Why it matters

The appointments come as PSCs face growing challenges balancing sustainability, reliability, and affordability. NARUC’s board helps shape regulatory policy across all 50 states, influencing energy infrastructure, performance, and consumer costs. 

Board members serve four-year terms and are responsible for managing NARUC’s general and financial functions, including approval of policy positions.

Zooming in

The new appointees represent a broad regional mix and bring deep experience in energy law, engineering, and natural gas oversight.

• Kim David (Oklahoma) has served on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission since January 2023, first as Commissioner and now as chairman. She previously served 12 years in the state Senate, where she was the first woman to hold the posts of majority leader and appropriations chair, and sponsored legislation to advance hydrogen fuel production. A small business owner and former petroleum marketer, she advocates an “all-of-the-above” energy policy. NARUC, David chairs the Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety and serves on the Committee on Gas and Task Force on Natural Gas Resource Planning. She holds a B.S. in Petroleum Geology from Oklahoma State University. 

• Sheri Haugen-Hoffart (North Dakota) joined the North Dakota Public Service Commission (NDPSC) in 2022 after serving in the state tax commissioner’s office. She was appointed to the Commission by Governor Doug Burgum and subsequently ran a successful campaign, securing a statewide election victory to retain her seat. She holds a diverse portfolio at the NDPSC that includes wind and solar reclamation, economic regulation for electric utilities, pipeline safety, damage prevention and enforcement, weights and measures, customer affairs, and cybersecurity. She also serves as vice president of the Mid-America Regulatory Conference Board, chair of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute Advisory Council, and sits on the DOE–NARUC Cyber Baselines Steering Committee. Haugen-Hoffart was the first female board chair for both Capital Electric Co-Op and Central Power Co-Op. She holds a B.A. from the University of North Dakota and an M.A. in Management from the University of Mary.

Haugen-Hoffart told Energy Platform News, “I am deeply honored to join the Board of Directors of the NARUC, serving alongside a distinguished group of Commissioners committed to advancing our nation's energy future. 

“As part of this leadership body, my regulatory priorities will focus on three foundational pillars: safeguarding reliability above all, preserving affordability for consumers, and implementing clear, forward-looking protocols to manage large energy loads. Together, these priorities will help build a resilient, cost-effective utility infrastructure equipped to meet the demands of tomorrow.”

• Kevin Thompson (Arizona) joined the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2023 and became chair in 2025. Prior to his service on the ACC, he served eight years on the Mesa City Council. With more than 25 years of experience in utility regulation, public service, and economic development, Thompson brings a different perspective to the position. He currently serves on NARUC’s Electricity Committee and the Western Energy Imbalance Market Body of State Regulators. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is also a U.S. Air Force combat veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm.

Thompson told Energy Platform News, “I look forward to joining my peers from across the nation as we continue to tackle issues important to Americans from coast to coast. Whether it be grid reliability and affordability, permit reform to build out natural gas infrastructure, or ensuring water security, I'm committed to doing my part to keep us moving forward.”

• Gabriella Passidomo Smith (Florida) was appointed to the Florida Public Service Commission in 2021 and previously worked in the commission’s legal office and the U.S. Department of Energy. Within NARUC, she represents the Southeastern region on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission/NARUC Federal and State Current Issues Collaborative and serves on the Committee on Electricity, Committee on Gas, Gas Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety, and Task Force on Gas Planning. Passidomo Smith also serves on advisory boards for the Financial Research Institute, Gas Technology Institute, and New Mexico State University’s Center for Public Utilities. Passidomo Smith holds a B.A. in Political Science, a J.D. from Washington & Lee, and an M.B.A. from Florida State University.

Additional details

NARUC also announced new vice chairs for two key committees: 

• Idaho Public Utilities Commission President Edward Lodge was named co–vice chair of the Subcommittee on Coal and Carbon Innovation, and Washington Utilities.
• Transportation Commissioner Milt Doumit will serve as co–vice chair of the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment.

_{Credit for Kevin Thompson portion of article image: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0}