R.I. Senate confirms Karen Bradbury to open spot on PUC
Rhode Island's three-pronged state utility panel is back to full power, with the Rhode Island Senate unanimously voting to confirm Karen Bradbury to the open seat on the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.
The chamber's 30-0 vote Tuesday fills the vacancy left by former commissioner John Revens, who resigned in December, midway through his six-year term. Supporters of Bradbury touted her experience in state and federal government and renewable energy as qualifications for her appointment. Bradbury most recently served as program administrator for Rhode Island's Office of Energy Resources, overseeing the rollout of federally funded tax credits and incentives to help homeowners and small business owners pay for high-efficiency electric heat pumps, among other renewable energy programs. Much of her 20-year policy career was spent working under U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, where she left as projects director in December 2022.
'She is committed to finding solutions that provide Rhode Islanders with clean and affordable energy,' Sen. Robert Britto, an East Providence Democrat, chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, said of Bradbury. 'Her track record makes her an excellent selection to serve on the PUC.'
Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski, a South Kingstown Democrat, also gave high praise to Bradbury.
'We are so fortunate to have someone with her expertise and her knowledge, and not only that, she's great to work with,' Sosnowski said.
Bradbury did not address the chamber, but waved in response to standing applause after the vote. She was accompanied by her husband, Patrick Crowley, the president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.
McKee's administration previously defended against inquiries about whether Bradbury's appointment was related to her husband's influential role with a major labor union, instead focusing on Bradbury's own qualifications for the job.
Bradbury's high-profile appointment to the regulatory body carries extra weight amid rising frustration over utility costs and profits reported by Rhode Island Energy. Addressing lawmakers during a May 20 panel hearing, Bradbury pledged to protect families and businesses grappling with soaring utility bills while also advancing the state's renewable energy mandates, which are one of several costs contributing to monthly utility bills.
The utilities commission by law cannot reject the state utility provider's proposed supply-side prices, as long as they do not include an extra markup beyond what it costs to purchase power directly from third-party suppliers. However, the commission has more authority over service-side charges and has scaled back Rhode Island Energy's proposed investments in capital infrastructure projects in acknowledgement of the extra costs to customers.
Bradbury will serve out the rest of Revens' term, which ends on March 1, 2027.
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