Press Release

Advocating for Affordability: Pennsylvania PUC Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss Appointed to National Coalition

Published on 5/30/2024

Filed under: Electric Gas Telecommunications Water and Wastewater

Commissioner Zerfuss to Serve on National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition Advisory Board Through May 2025

HARRISBURG – Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC).

In her new role on the NEUAC Advisory Board, Commissioner Zerfuss will participate in committee discussions on critical energy and utility affordability issues and join NEUAC Governance Board meetings as a non-voting member. The Advisory Board plays a key role in supporting the Governance Board with valuable insights and expertise. Commissioner Zerfuss was appointed at the recent NEUAC annual conference and will serve through May 2025.

Since joining the PUC in 2022, Commissioner Zerfuss has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to consumer issues, particularly the affordability of utility services.

"Ensuring that all families have access to affordable utility service and energy is a fundamental part of our mission at the PUC," said Commissioner Zerfuss. "I am honored to join NEUAC's Advisory Board and look forward to working with my colleagues to address these vital issues."

About Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss

Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss was nominated by Gov. Tom Wolf on September 20, 2022, and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate on Oct. 19, 2022. With over two decades of experience in government affairs and public service, she has been a strong advocate for regulatory and policy issues, focusing on education, workforce development, and environmental concerns.

Commissioner Zerfuss is involved with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and serves on its Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment. Additionally, she is co-vice chair of a NARUC/U.S. Department of Energy Task Force on Evolving Gas Infrastructure Planning and is the PAPUC designee to the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board and the Agrivoltaic Farming Advisory Board.

Commissioner Zerfuss’s career has also included roles throughout Pennsylvania state government, including service as a Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs for the Office of Governor Tom Wolf, where she advanced the state's It's On Us initiative to combat sexual violence at postsecondary schools, secured Pennsylvania's first tax credit to help working families with childcare, and created the state's free school breakfast program that serves students in all public and private schools. Prior to that, she held positions at the PA House of Representatives, PA Gaming Control Board, and the PA departments of Revenue, Agriculture, and Transportation.

An alumna of Elizabethtown College, she resides in Mechanicsburg with her family.

About NEUAC

The National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC) is a leading organization in public policy, advocacy, and addressing energy and poverty issues. NEUAC’s membership includes more than 300 organizations, including utilities, non-profits, energy assistance programs, trade associations, and tribal organizations. The coalition provides tools to advocate for funding programs like LIHEAP, supports low-income families, and offers resources to address poverty-related challenges.

Since its founding in 2013, NEUAC has committed to expanding its advocacy and education initiatives. Its annual events, including LIHEAP Advocacy Day and the NEUAC Annual Conference, are highly respected and widely attended, serving as key platforms for members to collaborate and learn from each other. For more information about NEUAC and its initiatives, visit the NEUAC website.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov
• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov