Governor Greg Abbott appointed Shelly Botkin to the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Her term expires September 1, 2019. She is expected to be sworn in Wednesday, June 13 and participate in her first PUC Open Meeting on Thursday, June 14.
Botkin’s appointment will bring the commission back to three commissioners. She will fill the position vacated by Brandy Marty Marquez’s departure in April. All three commissioners are new to the commission in the past year. Donna Nelson and Ken Anderson, two long-serving commissioners, left the commission last year. Chair DeAnn Walker and Arthur D’Andrea replaced Nelson and Anderson. The PUC also announced in March the hiring of its former director of government relations, John Paul Urban, as its new executive director, replacing Brian Lloyd, who resigned.
Before her appointment, Botkin was��director of Corporate Communications and Government Relations for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). She worked at ERCOT since 2010. Before working at ERCOT, Botkin was a Senior Policy Analyst in the Texas Senate from 2000 to 2009 and the Texas House of Representatives from 2009 to 2010.
“Shelly’s knowledge of electric market policy and the regulatory and legislative process has been a tremendous asset to ERCOT over the last eight years,” said ERCOT President and CEO Bill Magness. “We wish her continued success in her new role and look forward to working together.”
A graduate of Lubbock High School, Botkin received a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis.
About the PUC
The Public Utility Commission of Texas regulates the state’s electric, telecommunication, and water and sewer utilities. The PUC also implements legislation and offers customer assistance in resolving consumer complaints.