MISO’s Advisory Committee will continue to be led by its vice chair through the end of 2025 after the departure of Sarah Freeman from Indiana’s regulatory agency.
At an Oct. 28 meeting, acting chair and vice chair Brian Drumm, of ITC, agreed to helm the Advisory Committee’s remaining meeting during MISO’s quarterly Board Week in early December in Indianapolis.
Former Advisory Committee chair Freeman exited the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission — and thus MISO — Oct. 10 to join the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), a global non-governmental organization that helps policymakers tackle the clean energy transition. Freeman concluded 28 years of service to the state of Indiana to become a principal with RAP.
Chris Norton, of MISO’s Transmission-Dependent Utilities sector, proposed Drumm’s extension as acting chair. No committee member objected. Drumm previously led the Sept. 17 Advisory Committee meeting in Detroit as part of MISO Board Week.
At the Organization of MISO States’ annual meeting Oct. 21, OMS President and Minnesota Public Utilities Commissioner Joseph Sullivan said he would miss Freeman and her ability to work toward a goal and “ride over” noise in the industry. He said Freeman was one of the most active listeners he’s ever encountered and that he viewed her as a mentor through her demeanor and conduct.
MISO’s Advisory Committee is pulling together a committee of its members to consider nominations and select new leadership in 2026.
OMS intends to nominate Michigan Public Service Commission Chair Dan Scripps for committee consideration as the next Advisory Committee chair. Sullivan said Scripps is “well-suited to be a neutral voice” and potentially replace Freeman’s leadership on the Advisory Committee.
Separately, IURC Chairman Jim Huston took over Freeman’s representation on OMS until his retirement in early 2026. Huston plans to step down from the commission sometime in January, retiring after more than a decade on the job.
