Division Descriptions

Administration and Regulatory Policy Division

Wess Henderson, Director

The Administration and Regulatory Policy Division is responsible for managing the Commission’s human and fiscal resources.  The division has agency-wide responsibilities with departments that are responsible for the annual budget, fiscal services and procurement, human resources and payroll.  The Regulatory Policy and Public Information Department, another unit of the division, develops and distributes information to the media on agency activities, responds to media requests, and provides utility consumer education materials.  The Legislative Coordinator, the agency’s primary contact person with the General Assembly, is also assigned to this division and assists in responding to constituent inquiries.

Secretary/General Counsel Division

Steve Reed, Secretary/General Counsel 

The General Counsel is authorized by statute to represent the Public Service Commission in all actions and proceedings, whether arising under the Public Service Commission Law or otherwise.  Attorneys in the General Counsel’s Office appear in state and federal trial and appellate courts on behalf of the Commission.  The General Counsel also provides legal advice to the Commission and each Commissioner as requested.  When authorized by the Commission, the General Counsel seeks civil penalties from persons or companies that have violated the Public Service Commission Law or the Commission’s regulations or orders.  The General Counsel’s Office also appears for the Commission before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  Within the Secretary/General Counsel Division, the Adjudication Department is the PSC’s quasi-judicial component.  A staff of regulatory judges handles cases from their filing until their resolution.  The assigned judge presides over the hearings, rules on objections and motions, and drafts all orders, as directed by the Commission, for that particular case.  The Data Center receives all incoming pleadings and issues all Commission orders.  In addition, the Data Center maintains and preserves the official case files, tariffs and other official documents of the Commission. 
 

Regulatory Review Division

Cherlyn Voss, Director

The Director of Regulatory Review supervises and coordinates a number of PSC staff functions including rate cases, complaints, tariff filings, certificate applications, rulemakings and investigatory dockets.  The Tariff, Safety, Economic & Engineering Analysis Department and the Audits, Accounting & Financial Analysis Department are a part of the Regulatory Review Division.  The Staff Counsel’s Office also reports to the Regulatory Review Division regarding case related and investigatory activities.

Tariff, Safety, Economic & Engineering Analysis Department

Natelle Dietrich, Director

The Tariff, Safety, Economic & Engineering Analysis Department consist of four units: Energy, Telecommunications, Water and Sewer, and Manufactured Housing.  These units support the Commission in meeting its statutory responsibilities by providing technical expertise in safety; utility rates, tariffs, rules and regulations; economic analysis; engineering oversight and investigations; and construction inspections.  These units accomplish their mission by making recommendations to the Commission in the form of expert testimony, formal recommendations and presentations.

Audits, Accounting & Financial Analysis Department  

Robert Schallenberg, Director

The Audits, Accounting & Financial Analysis Department consist of five units which provide expertise to the Commission in the areas of utility accounting, auditing, engineering, finance, management and natural gas procurement.  Staff members perform audits, examinations, analyses and review the books and records of the utilities providing service in Missouri.  These employees express their conclusions and findings in the form of expert testimony and recommendations that are filed with the Commission.  These units are also responsible for investigating and responding to consumer complaints and making recommendations to the Commission regarding their resolution.    

Staff Counsel Department

Kevin A. Thompson, Chief Staff Counsel

Attorneys of the Staff Counsel’s Office represent the Commission’s staff in administrative matters before the Commission.  The Staff Counsel’s Office also provides legal advice to the Commission’s staff.  The office houses the Consumer Services Department, the clearinghouse for all utility consumer inquiries.  Consumer Services investigates and responds to complaints to ensure compliance with Commission rules and utility tariffs.  When a consumer has an issue that is not satisfactorily resolved after an initial contact with the utility, the consumer may call the PSC consumer hotline (1-800-392-4211) for assistance.