TOPEKA - Kansas Corporation Commission Chair Andrew French is one of 10 state utility regulators selected to serve on a new Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission. The first meeting of the task force, which includes all Commissioners from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in addition to selected state regulators, is set for November 10.

State and federal regulators both have authority over transmission related issues. Coordination on how to plan and pay for new transmission investments as the nation transitions to cleaner energy sources will be among the topics addressed by the task force.

“It’s clear new transmission planning and funding methods will be needed to unlock the full benefits of renewable energy resources – and to ensure those benefits, both economic and environmental, can be available across regions and throughout the nation,” said French. “Assuming new interregional transmission is efficiently planned, and its costs are allocated fairly, Kansas should benefit from developing and exporting its renewable energy resources.”

French was appointed to the Kansas Corporation Commission in June 2020. He was elected Chair in January 2021 and currently participates on several Southwest Power Pool committees including the Regional State Committee (RSC), Strategic and Creative Re-Engineering of Integrated Planning Team (SCRIPT) initiative and Regional Allocation Review Task Force (RARTF).

Prior to his appointment to the KCC, French practiced law with a private firm focused on utility rates and regulation, including evaluation of cost and service impacts associated with transmission investment. Before working in private practice, he held a variety of staff attorney positions at the KCC, including Senior Litigation Counsel.

An agenda for the first task force meeting will be issued by October 27. All task force meetings will be open to the public for listening and observing. Additional details will be available prior to the meeting date.