Utility regulators have no quorum to vote on $2.8 billion Kentucky Power sale – 89.3 WFPL News Louisville

State utility regulators don’t have sufficient commissioners to supervise the $2.8 billion sale of Kentucky Energy after senators failed to substantiate commissioner Amy Cubbage on the final day of the legislative session.

It was the second time in two months the state senate failed to substantiate Gov. Andy Beshear’s picks for the three-person utility regulators board — leaving Chairman Kent Chandler as the only commissioner serving on the state’s Public Service Fee. 

A spokesperson for Beshear stated politics received in the best way of the appointments, and the governor is searching for certified individuals to nominate to the fee. 

“By refusing to substantiate two of the three members of the fee, the Normal Meeting has triggered and can once more trigger vital disruption and delay to crucial circumstances,” stated Crystal Staley in an announcement. 

The Public Service Fee declined to remark, deferring to the governor’s workplace. 

Again in February, Republican Senate President Robert Stivers of Manchester instructed senators that he wouldn’t be voting to substantiate Marianne Butler to the Public Service Fee. He stated a number of individuals had reached out to him with issues the fee had turn into dysfunctional. Her affirmation failed on a 26-9 vote. 

The Public Service Fee is accountable for overseeing a lot of the state’s utilities together with electrical energy, gasoline, some water and telecommunications. Late final yr, Chandler testified the company doesn’t have the workers or assets to handle its workload, and now there aren’t sufficient members on the fee to make choices. 

Cubbage served on the fee for nearly 9 months earlier than senators selected to not verify her to the place. In an announcement on Twitter, Cubbage stated she was upset and anxious that the fee lacked a quorum provided that it’s purported to act on the sale of Kentucky Energy within the subsequent two weeks.

“Even when a brand new commissioner is appointed, she or he must digest hundreds of pages of filings and can lack the good thing about collaborating within the current listening to,” Cubbage stated. “The residents and ratepayers of Japanese Kentucky deserve higher.”

Kentucky Energy serves round 165,000 ratepayers in 20 counties in Japanese Kentucky. Ratepayers have struggled to afford the utility’s rising costs lately, significantly amid rising gasoline costs final winter. 

Liberty Utilities, which owns 30 utilities throughout 13 states, has provided to buy Kentucky Energy for $2.846 billion and is keen to imagine greater than $1.2 billion in debt. 

Liberty has promised to cut back ratepayers’ payments by 14% to 16%, and received’t search additional fee will increase by way of 2023. However the sale can’t undergo with out the Public Service Fee’s approval.