The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, the state’s regulatory body over utilities, agreed to leadership changes. These come at the request of Chairman Gary Hanson.
He was first elected to the PUC in 2002 and held the top leadership spot on multiple occasions. Hanson requested the leadership change as he began treatments for cancer detected during October.
“It’s become apparent that I will not be able to dedicate the proper amount of time to be chair because as chair we have certain requirements that we need to immediately take care of and there may be some situations where I cannot," Hanson said.
Hanson spoke at the PUC’s Nov. 6 meeting. He said the diagnosis has given him perspective.
“Every time I walk in and out of the building, I see those young kids and the challenges they have. Mine are, mine are so minor compared to what they have. I’ve been so incredibly fortunate that it really is no big deal for a 75-year-old with the life that I’ve had," Hanson said. "It’s so gratifying to know that I didn’t suffer through the challenges that some of these very, very young children have gone through.”
Commissioner Chris Nelson is now Chair, and Commissioner Kristie Fiegen now Vice-Chair of the PUC.
Fiegen and Nelson said they plan to keep the PUC running smoothly and keep him in their prayers.
