Governor Abbott Reappoints Tonya Baer To The Office Of Public Utility Counsel
Governor Greg Abbott today announced the reappointment of Tonya Baer to the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) for a term to expire February 1, 2017. OPUC provides professional representation to residential and small commercial utility consumers to ensure affordable and reliable utility services in the state of Texas.
Tonya Baer was first appointed Public Counsel for the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) on October 10, 2013. The Public Counsel is appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and acts independently of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
During her tenure, Baer successfully implemented the agency’s new authority to represent residential and small commercial water and sewer consumers in rate cases, hiring five additional staff to provide legal and technical expertise on behalf of these consumers. Additionally, under Baer’s direction, OPUC achieved over $54 million in electric bill savings for residential and small commercial consumers.
Baer brings a unique blend of relevant experience to OPUC with prior service as an attorney and assistant director for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Radioactive Materials Division, a legislative liaison for TCEQ and attorney for the Public Utility Commission. She also served as legislative liaison for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and as a senior revenue analyst for the Governor's Division of Budget, Planning and Policy. Baer received a bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of South Dakota and completed the senior management program at the University of Texas Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs Governor's Center for Management Development. As the Public Counsel, she serves ex officio on the boards of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Texas Reliability Entity.