PA
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania's utility regulator oversees electric, natural-gas, telecommunications, water, transportation, rail-safety, and pipeline matters. Ratebase currently follows its investor-owned electric and gas general-rate proceedings.
Commissioners
Five commissioners serve staggered five-year terms. A commissioner whose term expires may remain for no more than six months while a successor is pending.
- Who appoints them
- The governor nominates commissioners, and a majority of the Pennsylvania Senate must consent. A mid-term vacancy is filled only for the balance of the predecessor's term.
- Who selects the leadership
- The governor designates the chair every four years. The commissioners elect one member annually to serve as vice chair.
- Stephen M. DeFrank ↗
Chairman
Nominated by Gov. Josh Shapiro on Mar 24, 2025 · Senate confirmed Jun 4, 2025
Term ends Apr 1, 2030 · 3 years, 8 months remaining
Renominated and unanimously confirmed for a second term. Gov. Shapiro designated him chairman in 2023.
- Kimberly M. Barrow ↗
Vice Chair
Nominated by Gov. Josh Shapiro on Apr 14, 2023 · Senate confirmed Aug 30, 2023
Term ends Apr 1, 2028 · 1 year, 8 months remaining
Elected vice chair by her fellow commissioners in 2023 and reelected in 2025.
- Kathryn L. Zerfuss ↗
Commissioner
Nominated by Gov. Tom Wolf on Sep 20, 2022 · Senate confirmed Oct 19, 2022
Term ended Apr 1, 2026 · holdover window ends Oct 1, 2026 · 2 months remaining
Her published term has ended, but she remains on the current official roster. Pennsylvania law permits a holdover of no more than six months while a successor is pending.
- John F. Coleman, Jr. ↗
Commissioner
Nominated by Govs. Ed Rendell, Tom Corbett, and Tom Wolf
Term ends Apr 1, 2027 · 8 months remaining
First appointed in 2010 and subsequently nominated by three governors; the official biography does not state the dates for his current term.
- Ralph V. Yanora ↗
Commissioner
Nominated by Gov. Josh Shapiro on Jul 11, 2024 · Senate confirmed Sep 18, 2024
Term ends Apr 1, 2029 · 2 years, 8 months remaining
Renominated and confirmed for a second five-year term.
Official roster verified Jul 14, 2026.
Open proceedings
- PPL Electric
R-2025-3057164
Reconsideration
- National Fuel Gas
R-2025-3059428
Briefing
- UGI Electric
R-2025-3059430
Hearing
- UGI Gas
R-2025-3059523
Settlement pending
- Peoples Natural Gas
R-2026-3060855
Hearing
Upcoming dates
Settlement comments due
Jul 15, 2026 · UGI Gas · R-2025-3059523
Evidentiary hearings
Aug 5, 2026 · Peoples Natural Gas · R-2026-3060855
Evidentiary hearings
Aug 12, 2026 · UGI Electric · R-2025-3059430
Reviewed case timeline
| Date | Event | Proceeding |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2027 | Proposed settlement step 2 effective | UGI Gas R-2025-3059523 |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Suspension expires — not a scheduled decision | UGI Electric R-2025-3059430 |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Suspension expires — not a scheduled decision | Peoples Natural Gas R-2026-3060855 |
| Oct 29, 2026 | Suspension expires — not a scheduled decision | National Fuel Gas R-2025-3059428 |
| Oct 29, 2026 | Suspension expires — not a scheduled decision | UGI Gas R-2025-3059523 |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Proposed settlement step 1 effective | UGI Gas R-2025-3059523 |
| Aug 12, 2026 | Evidentiary hearings | UGI Electric R-2025-3059430 |
| Aug 5, 2026 | Evidentiary hearings | Peoples Natural Gas R-2026-3060855 |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Settlement comments due | UGI Gas R-2025-3059523 |
| Jul 9, 2026 | Evidentiary hearing notice published | UGI Electric R-2025-3059430 |
| Jul 9, 2026 | Joint settlement filed; approval pending | UGI Gas R-2025-3059523 |
| Jul 8, 2026 | Reconsideration granted pending merits review | PPL Electric R-2025-3057164 |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Reply briefs filed | National Fuel Gas R-2025-3059428 |
| Jul 1, 2026 | Authorized distribution rates became effective | PPL Electric R-2025-3057164 |
| Jun 26, 2026 | Petition for reconsideration and clarification filed | PPL Electric R-2025-3057164 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Rewrite opinion and order entered | PPL Electric R-2025-3057164 |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Commission acted at public meeting | PPL Electric R-2025-3057164 |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Rewrite opinion and order adopted | PPL Electric R-2025-3057164 |
Covered utilities
- Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania
gas · 0 cases
- Duquesne Light
electric · 0 cases
- FirstEnergy Pennsylvania
electric · 0 cases
- Met-Ed
electric · 0 cases
- National Fuel Gas
gas · 1 cases
- PECO Electric
electric · 0 cases
- PECO Gas
gas · 0 cases
- PPL Electric
electric · 1 cases
- Penelec
electric · 0 cases
- Penn Power
electric · 0 cases
- Peoples Natural Gas
gas · 1 cases
- UGI Electric
electric · 1 cases
- UGI Gas
gas · 1 cases
- West Penn Power
electric · 0 cases