FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Jan. 25, 2008                                             

CONTACT: Leah Mohr, communications manager, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, (605) 773-3201 

Public Utilities Commissioner Johnson picked for national board

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Dusty Johnson has been selected to serve on the board of directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Johnson was appointed to the post by NARUC president, Commissioner Marsha Smith of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.

"Commissioner Johnson is stepping up to serve NARUC at a critical time," said Smith. "The board provides the leadership foundation for ensuring that the association is meeting our members' needs, and I look forward to working with my colleague at this level."

NARUC is a member-driven organization supervised by the board of directors. The board consists of 20 members plus the association's president, the first and second vice presidents, and each past president who is still an active NARUC member. Members serve four-year terms. As the supervisory body, the board oversees the association's general and financial functions and approves resolutions that serve as the association's policy.

"Many of the telecommunications and energy issues that we face in South Dakota are really regional, national, or even global in nature," said Johnson. "South Dakota isn't an island, and we can't solve those problems on our own. Being on the board of directors is a great opportunity to ensure we tackle those issues in a way that makes sense for our state."

Johnson was elected to the PUC in 2004, becoming the youngest utilities commissioner in the nation. He currently serves on NARUC's electricity committee and on the Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Board. Johnson is past chairman of the PUC and the South Dakota Rural Development Council.

Other new NARUC board members include New York Public Service Commission Chairman Garry Brown and District of Columbia Public Service Commissioner Rick Morgan.  

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MEDIA NOTE: Contact Leah Mohr, leah.mohr@state.sd.us or (605) 773-3201, to request a photo of Commissioner Johnson to publish with this release.