CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The newest member of the state Public Service Commission expects a challenging, fun time in the years ahead. Former Kanawha County state Senator Brooks McCabe knows most people wouldn’t see it that way.
McCabe, who was appointed to the three-member commission last month by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, told MetroNews recently he likes crunching the numbers on technical issues. He said he finds that kind of work “challenging and fun.”
“Most people look at that with dread and say, ‘I’ll look at the concepts but I get confused in the numbers,’ I like to tie the numbers with the concepts and the more complicated and challenging, in some cases, the more interest I have,” McCabe said.
He’s right. When McCabe served in the state Senate with Gov. Tomblin, who was the Senate president at the time, Tomblin would often lean on McCabe to lead the discussion on technical issues like workers’ compensation reform and finding a funding stream to pay down the debt on Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB).
When Tomblin came calling for a PSC appointment McCabe said it took him about two weeks to accept and he’s glad he did. McCabe said he’s long thought the PSC is one of the most important operations in the state because it regulates so much that is tied to economic development from motor carriers, to natural gas pipelines to utility service.
“These are really extremely significant decisions that will affect the state for a generation, McCabe said.”When the opportunity afforded itself to actually participate in a meaningful way I thought this was something I could do and hopefully do well and make a significant contribution hopefully in the development of the state.”
The former four-term senator joins PSC Chairman Mike Albert and Commissioner John McKinney. McCabe started work Nov. 15 and he said he’s already noticed the quality of the PSC staff.
“Sometimes there will be difficult decisions and you have to kind of work through the process and I’m extremely thankful for the quality of staff here—the due diligence they do, framing the issues putting the data in place, all of that is so vital to making the right decisions. It ought to be a fun, challenging next couple of years,” according to McCabe.
In the end, the new commissioner said the decisions made by the PSC are connected to state residents.
“You’ve got to make decisions that can be understood, internalized and accepted. That’s the end game, how does it affect the state and its citizens,” McCabe said.
McCabe decided not to seek reelection to the Senate this year. His seat, which is empty for the time being, was won by Republican Tom Takubo.