Rules and Judiciary Committee Approves One PSC Candidate, Reject Another
On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Rules and Judiciary met to, among other things, consider two key nominations to the Public Services Commission, the powerful entity that regulates utility providers in the territory.
2023-09-29 16:21:53 - VI News Staff
Lawmakers considered Sandra Setorie for the role of PSC executive director. If approved, Ms. Setorie would come to lead the agency she joined in April 1996 as the PSC’s administrative official on St. Croix.
Establishing her suitability for the role, Ms. Setorie noted her service as a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions, and her graduation from the Institute of Public Utilities at Michigan State University, where she completed the annual regulatory studies program for industry professionals.
Her personal experiences as a resident of the Virgin Islands will also be brought to bear, Ms. Setorie told lawmakers. “I live the nexus of utilities issues that often trouble our territory,” she said. “I have been on the receiving end of less-than-quality service, increased billings, and at times unfair practices.” These keenly felt deficiencies serve to fuel Ms. Setorie’s determination to make a difference. “I counsel our team to leave no stone unturned to provide the best possible representation on behalf of those that we serve,” she told lawmakers. She offered an insider’s perspective of the workings of the commission – “though it is not always evident, important progress is being made to transform the provision and delivery of public necessities,” she said.
Speaking of her ability to manage the demanding executive role, Ms. Setorie noted that she “earned three university degrees while holding full-time jobs and raising my children.” She also argued that she has “effectively co-managed the Public Services Commission” over the last two decades.