Press Release

PUC Appoints Matt Homsher as Secretary of Commission

Published on 3/27/2025

Filed under: Consumer Education 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 Matthew L. Homsher, Esq., of Marietta, Lancaster County, as Secretary of the Commission. Homsher’s appointment takes effect April 19.

Homsher replaces Rosemary Chiavetta, who is retiring on April 18. Secretary Chiavetta served in the role since April 2010.

“Matt Homsher has a firm understanding of the duties and functions of the Secretary of the Commission and the work of the Secretary’s Bureau,” said Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank. “He has worked extensively in conjunction with the Secretary’s Bureau in his role of Legal Division Supervisor in the Office of Administrative Law Judge. He is an experienced attorney who is well-positioned to direct the PUC’s Secretary’s Bureau.”

The Secretary’s Bureau is the PUC’s official point of contact with the public. The Secretary serves as the prothonotary of the Commission, and all documents and filings received by the Commission must be officially filed with the Secretary. The PUC received more than 32,000 filings in 2024.

The bureau processes, dockets and assigns all filings to the appropriate bureaus within the Commission for review and recommendation. All official Commission actions and decisions are issued over the Secretary’s signature.

The Secretary’s Bureau coordinates the Commission’s Public Meeting agendas, records the minutes of each Public Meeting, and issues all Commission Orders, Decisions and Secretarial Letters. The Secretary also is the Commission’s official Right to-Know Officer.

Homsher currently is the Legal Division Supervisor in the Office of Administrative Law Judge. Prior to his role as the Legal Division Supervisor, Homsher began his career with the PUC in 2018 by serving as a mediator with the Office of Administrative Law Judge.

Homsher started his career in private practice where he spent almost 20 years representing both plaintiffs and defendants in civil and commercial litigation.

He is admitted to practice before the Bar of Pennsylvania, the Eastern District and Middle District Courts of Pennsylvania, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. As a trial attorney, Homsher has represented clients in mediations, arbitrations, bench trials, jury trials, and various appellate courts.

Homsher has also served as an arbitrator for the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, and as a volunteer mediator for Advoz Mediation and Restorative Practices.

Homsher is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University and Roger Williams University School of Law.

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:

• Tom Charles
  Director of Communications
  717-787-9504
  thcharles@pa.gov