Baker Set to Weigh in On PSC Tenure Vote

By a vote of three to two, the Public Service Commission elected to throw out a 16 year old state law, and increase the tenure of its chairman from one to two years. And the group choose Sam Wise to serve as its chair for two years beginning in July.

Commissioner Robert Baker was one of those who voted against the change. Long seen as a strong consumer advocate, under the old rules Baker would become PSC chairman in 2012. But, right now Baker says he’s taking a wait and see approach.

"We anticipate that we'll be getting a response back from the attorney general within a couple of weeks. We hope that will resolve the issue once and for all regarding the validity of the current statute."

Earlier this year, the Georgia House of Representatives said 'yes' to a bill that would have changed state law and increased the PSC chair's term of tenure. But the measure failed in the Senate.

And, although an official opinion has not be issued by state Attorney General Thurbert Baker, a spokesman for his office says the PSC does not have the power to invalidate a state law.