The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced its chair Stephen DeFrank will serve a second term after his reappointment was confirmed by the state Senate.
DeFrank was nominated by Gov. Josh Shapiro and was sworn in on June 4. He will continue on as chair of the commission through April 1, 2030. Originally nominated to the commission by Gov. Tom Wolf in 2022, DeFrank also served as vice chair of the commission before being appointed chair by Shapiro in August 2023. Since then, he had led the commission through significant policy, infrastructure and technological changes.
“I’m honored by the confidence shown by Governor Shapiro and the Senate,” DeFrank said. “At a time of fast-moving change across our energy and utility systems — from rising demand and extreme weather to cybersecurity and infrastructure modernization — the Commission’s mission remains clear: ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable service for every Pennsylvanian.”
DeFrank’s first term focused on the commission’s core responsibilities of reliability, affordability and safety, while positioning the PUC to address long-term trends and emerging risks, including energy transition, adverse weather, infrastructure investment, cybersecurity threats and utility business model transformation.
Key initiatives under DeFrank include confronting the rising demand for electricity, convening hearings on reliability and large load growth, accelerating infrastructure modernization, strengthening public safety and enhancing affordability protections. During DeFrank’s first term, the PUC launched PAPUC Forward, a five-year strategic plan to modernize commission operations, support staff development and improve regulatory process efficiency.