Gov. Scott Walker named Ellen Nowak, chief of staff to Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas, to the Public Service Commission Thursday.
She will join Chairman Phil Montgomery and Commissioner Eric Callisto as a full-time commissioner. While terms are normally for six years, Nowak’s appointment is to an unexpired term of Lauren Azar ending March 1, 2013, governor’s spokesman Cullen Werwie said. Her appointment needs Senate confirmation. Azar is leaving the commission to join the U.S. Department of Energy.
The PSC is responsible for regulating Wisconsin public utilities, including those that are municipally owned. Utilities must seek commission approval for new rates, for major construction projects like water wells or power plants, or to issue stocks or bonds.
Nowak has been Vrakas’ chief of staff since November 2009. Previously she was legal counsel to the Assembly Speaker for the last six months of Scott Jensen’s tenure in 2002, followed by John Gard, until 2006, when she was promoted to chief of staff.
She received her law degree from Marquette University Law School and her bachelor’s degree in political science form the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Vrakas praised the appointment, saying Nowak “has served the citizens of Waukesha County with integrity” and would be an outstanding commissioner.