The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners has named Georgia PSC Commissioner Fitz Johnson to chair a new committee — the Task Force on Natural Gas Resource Planning.

The task force was established to provide utility regulators across the county with tools, expertise and platforms to share information as they create energy policy for their respective states.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead this task force of 20 regulators from across the nation,” Johnson said. “Georgia has a long history of developing rational and successful policy for complex problems. I pledge to work my hardest to ensure Georgia keeps its solid reputation as a policy leader as this task force helps individual states create solutions for their natural gas resource challenges.”

NARUC President Michael A. Caron said the task force will not develop or promote a single solution to the complex challenges facing natural gas resources. Instead, it is intended to facilitate the development of roadmaps focused on planning approaches that can help each state successfully implement policy unique to its own needs. Commissioner Tammy Cordova of the Nevada Public Utilities Commission and Commissioner Kathryn Zerfuss of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will serve as co-vice chairs.

“We know that the natural gas sector is experiencing rapid shifts in technology and policies, which often presents complex questions for state utility regulators,” said Caron, a commissioner with the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. “Under the thoughtful and experienced leadership of Commissioner Johnson and co-vice chairs Commissioners Zerfuss and Cordova, this task force will help state commissioners become better informed and aid in their gas infrastructure decision making.”

This initiative is supported by the Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Office of Policy and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and will be staffed by the NARUC Center for Partnerships and Innovation. The task force has been commissioned to work for two years.

Founded in 1889, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners is a non-profit organization dedicated to representing the state public service commissions who regulate the utilities that provide essential services such as energy, telecommunications, power, water, and transportation. NARUC's members include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Please see the organization’s website here: https://www.naruc.org/

Commissioner Johnson was appointed to the PSC in July 2021 and is running for election to a full six-year term. He is a businessman, a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army, and a long-time Georgia resident. He has vast experience in building and leading companies as well as non-profits, driving growth and producing positive results. A picture is attached and a full bio can be found at https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/commissioners/fitz-johnson/

The Georgia Public Service Commission is a five-member constitutional agency that exercises its authority and influence to ensure that consumers receive safe, reliable, and reasonably-priced telecommunications, electric and natural gas service from financially viable and technically competent companies. For more information on the Commission, see the Commission website at https://psc.ga.gov