Gov. Tim Walz appoints Audrey Partridge as commissioner of Public Utilities Commission

Gov. Tim Walz appointed Audrey Partridge as the new commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission on Thursday, Jan. 30.

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is a five-member body with legislative and quasi-judicial functions aimed at regulating electricity, natural gas and telephone services industries in Minnesota. The appointment comes as Minnesota’s Legislative session is underway and the PUC recently approved the state’s first carbon capture pipeline.

“I am so grateful to be appointed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. I thank Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan for trusting me to serve our state at this pivotal time in our clean energy transition,” Partridge said in a Thursday news release. “I will work each and every day to meet Minnesota’s ambitious clean energy goals, while maintaining affordability and reliability, and supporting Minnesota’s communities and our highly skilled energy workforce.”

Partridge has been the director of policy for the Center for Energy and Environment since 2017 and has served as senior regulatory analyst and local energy policy manager with CenterPoint Energy. Partridge earned an M.P.P. from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. from Macalester College.

“Partridge is a proven leader with expertise in regulatory policy and extensive background in energy and environmental work,” Walz said in a news release. “She will be an effective leader, positioned to guide Minnesota towards 100 percent clean energy while ensuring the delivery of safe, reliable, and sustainable utility services across the state.”