By Tom Kleckner
The executive director of the Public Utility Commission of Texas told staff last week he intends to resign from the agency, effective March 1.
Brian Lloyd is only the PUC’s second executive director and has held the position for slightly more than seven years. In a letter to staff, Lloyd said his departure would ensure a smooth transition to a new director and allow the commissioners “sufficient time to be deliberate in considering the applicants they will have for this position.”
“I have felt very strongly over the past several months that God has something else that he wants me to move onto, and while it is scary having absolutely no idea what that is, I’ve been comforted much over the holidays with reminders to place my trust there,” Lloyd wrote.
“The most difficult part of this decision is how much I enjoy working with all of you on issues critically important to Texas and the high degree of integrity and ethical standards that I believe is ingrained in our culture here,” he said.
Lloyd’s resignation creates two vacancies among the PUC’s senior leadership. Communication Director Terry Hadley retired from the commission just before the new year. Hadley had been with the PUC since Texas’ electric restructuring legislation was signed into law in 1999.
The PUC is also entering 2018 with a new chair (DeAnn Walker) and a new commissioner (Arthur D’Andrea), who replaced the commission’s longest-serving commissioners (Donna Nelson and Ken Anderson) last fall.
As executive director, Lloyd oversees the PUC’s day-to-day operations and management, including developing its strategic plan, directing staff analysis of contested proceedings and rulemakings, and developing and implementing the agency’s budget. Lloyd also coordinates the commission’s interaction with other state agencies and represents it at the Texas Legislature and other forums.
Lloyd has served in roles of increasing responsibility during his 19 years in electricity and telecommunications market design, restructuring and deregulation, as well as areas of electric reliability and assessing the impacts of federal environmental policy on competitive and regulated electricity markets. Before joining the PUC in September 2010, he was Gov. Rick Perry’s deputy director of budget, planning and policy.
Lloyd holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin.
