Gov. John Kasich on Monday named Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Vice Chair Asim Haque to replace outgoing Chairman Andre Porter.

Porter announced last month that he would be leaving the commission on May 20. While Porter, who served little more than a year, hasn’t said where he would be going, industry speculation has him taking a position with MISO. The RTO has declined repeated requests to comment on the speculation.

Haque, appointed to the commission three years ago by Kasich, will be the fourth PUCO chairman in four years. Haque will be guiding the commission through the ongoing controversy over power purchase agreements for American Electric Power and FirstEnergy.

“Throughout his three years of service on the PUCO, Commissioner Haque has demonstrated an exceptional command of the issues and challenges facing Ohio’s energy markets. No one is better prepared to apply that level of expertise and independent judgment to the role of chairman,” Kasich said.

“I am honored by the governor’s confidence in my ability to lead the commission, and I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners and the talented PUCO staff to foster energy policies that further strengthen Ohio’s job growth with affordable, reliable power,” Haque said.

Haque has bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and political science from Case Western Reserve University and a law degree from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

A nominating council will now have to come up with four names to submit to Kasich for consideration to fill Haque’s old seat, a process that could take months.

 — Ted Caddell