Press Release

PUC Appoints Kelly Monaghan as Deputy Executive Director

Published on 12/19/2024

Filed under: Electric Gas Motor Carrier Pipeline Rails Telecommunications Transportation and Safety Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced the appointment of Kelly Monaghan of Lancaster County as Deputy Executive Director, reporting to Executive Director Jennifer Berrier. Monaghan’s appointment is effective immediately.

Monaghan has served with distinction as Director of the Bureau of Audits since January 2017.

“Kelly’s energy and enthusiasm for her work at the PUC and her commitment to our mission are impressive and evident in the way she carries out her duties and contributes to our Commission’s community and culture,” said Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank. “She has been a leader of a staff subcommittee for our national association, spearheaded the creation of a technical education program at the PAPUC, and contributed to the successful launch of our new strategic plan. She will continue to be an asset to our Commission and those we serve in this new role.”

In her new role as Deputy Executive Director, Monaghan will oversee and manage the functions of the Bureau of Audits, the Office of Administrative Law Judge, the Bureau of Consumer Services, the Office of Special Assistants, and the Bureau of Technical Utility Services to ensure orderly examination and thorough analysis of complex utility legal and technical matters and to further foster cross-bureau collaboration. Monaghan will develop and ensure execution of standard operating procedures related to the Commission’s statutory and regulatory functions so that responsibilities are carried out in a timely manner, compliant with deadlines.

She also will coordinate with the Executive Director and the Director of Administration to implement, monitor, and evaluate the Commission’s efforts toward achieving its current five-year operational strategic plan, “PAPUC Forward.”

On Dec. 22, 2016, the Commissioners announced the appointment of Monaghan to serve as the Director of Audits, effective Jan. 1, 2017. The Bureau of Audits performs financial, management, operational and specialized audits on electric, natural gas, steam heat, wastewater, water and telecommunications utilities.

Monaghan led the creation of the PUC’s Technical Education Committee (TEC) to focus on the ongoing education of the Commission’s analysts, auditors, engineers, specialists and others. She served a two-year term (June 2021 to June 2023) as Chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Staff Subcommittee on Accounting and Finance, in addition to serving as Secretary from 2018 through 2021.

Before joining the PUC in 2017, Monaghan held various audit roles within the state, having worked in the former Department of Public Welfare, the Department of State, the Executive Offices within the Office of the Budget, and the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance.

Monaghan received her bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in accounting from the University of Phoenix. She currently is pursuing a law degree at Widener University Commonwealth Law School. Monaghan lives in Elizabethtown. 

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.

# # #

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov