Alumna Kathryn L. Zerfuss has been confirmed for her second term with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) which oversees utility services all across the state.
Zerfuss graduated from Elizabethtown College in 2003 with a degree in political science. In 2022, she was first appointed to PUC by then-Governor Tom Wolf.
During her tenure, Zerfuss has focused on decreasing energy prices, standing with responsible investments in infrastructure and helping increase the industry job market through internships.
PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank said Zerfuss “has been a thoughtful and dedicated member of this Commission.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro nominated her for reappointment, and she was reconfirmed by a unanimous vote in the Pennsylvania Senate on Oct. 7. Her second term will last until April 1, 2031. Zerfuss’ next term will continue her goals of affordable energy, reliable grids, developing the workforce and creating a good future for Pennsylvania’s energy.
Zerfuss is continuing to make history within the commission, being the ninth woman to serve with the PUC. She also works with Vice Chair Kimberly Barrow, which is only the fourth time two women commissioners have served together. They will continue to help build the commission up with other board members Steve DeFrank, John F. Coleman Jr. and Ralph V. Yanora.
PUC’s responsibilities have been changing in recent years in general, caused by the continued growth of electric demand, energy markets, grids and technologies. There have also been struggles with keeping the service safe and accessible. Pennsylvania’s energy market will continue to change, and PUC will concentrate on regulation and planning and working with other utilities, policymakers and consumers.
With Zerfuss beginning her second term in the middle of all this, she said, “The work of this Commission is never simply about regulations, infrastructure or economics—it is about people. Every decision we make affects families, businesses and communities across our Commonwealth. I will continue this responsibility with humility, integrity, curiosity and an unwavering commitment to serving every Pennsylvanian fairly.”
These goals will be difficult to achieve, but Zerfuss will be able to complete them. She has over two decades of experience under her belt. Her career has covered many roles throughout the Pennsylvania state government. Some of these include the Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Departments of Revenue, Agriculture and Transportation.
As Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs, she advanced the It’s On Us initiative to fight against sexual violence at postsecondary schools, created the free school breakfast program and got Pennsylvania’s first tax credit.
Outside of PUC, Zerfuss is vice chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ (NARUC) Select Committee on Regulatory and Industry Diversity, the Committees on Energy Resources and the Environment, the Committee on Gas and the Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety. Throughout these many roles in different committees, she advances Pennsylvania’s leadership in regulating utilities and energy policy at a national level.
With all of these roles came experience in goal setting, and she has gotten especially good at reaching these goals as well. She has an unwavering dedication to the people of Pennsylvania, and it is no question that she will be able to continue the goals that the commission has set.
Many Pennsylvanians believe that the future for their utilities isn’t the brightest, but PUC’s plans for the next couple of years are sure to change that. Zerfuss began her first term in 2022, and she has had the same ideas for both terms. This goes to show that PUC is going to continue trying to accomplish this, and make the Pennsylvania residents happy.
