The Executive Council voted unanimously Wednesday to put a top state attorney in charge of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission.
The new PUC chair will be Dianne Martin. She's currently chief of staff to state Attorney General Gordon MacDonald.
Martin has worked with the Department of Justice since 2002, most recently overseeing the state's public contracts division.
Chairing the PUC means Martin will work with federal regulators to manage utility rates and other energy, water and telecommunications issues.
She'll also lead the Site Evaluation Committee, which is tasked with reviewing all large-scale energy development proposals in the state.
At Wednesday’s meeting, councilors also re-appointed the state's utility consumer advocate, Don Kreis, for a second term.
In a statement, Sununu cited Martin's experience in the public sector: "Her knowledge of state government and administrative laws is key to this position, and I am proud to have nominated her for this important role."
