Abbott Appoints Former Aide, Commissioner Arthur D’Andrea to PUC Chairmanship

D’Andrea is a sitting PUC commissioner who Abbott appointed in 2017. As chair, he is replacing DeAnn Walker, another Abbott appointee, who resigned her position on Monday — part of the fallout from the Texas blackout.

Previously, D’Andrea served as the assistant general counsel to Governor Abbott, and before that served as assistant solicitor general in the Office of the Attorney General.

The PUC oversees the state’s utilities including its electric grid, water and sewer system, and communications infrastructure. The whole body has come under fire for its role in the Texas blackouts.

This still leaves one vacancy on the three-member commission.