A Day at Virginia SCC

Deck: 

State Commissions

Byline: 

Lori Burkhart

Author Bio: 

Lori Burkhart is the Editor-in-chief of Public Utilities Fortnightly.

Fortnightly Magazine - June 2021

Richmond, Virginia is a beautiful, historical city, where Patrick Henry famously declared, give me liberty or give me death, at its St. John's Church in 1775, leading up to the Revolutionary War. At PUF, we are fascinated by Richmond for its beauty and history, yes, but as home of the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The Commission is a unique regulatory body with authority over utilities, insurance, state-chartered financial institutions, securities, retail franchising, railroads, and well, a long laundry list. No wonder the Commission employs over six-hundred Staff.

The Commission also has its own building, necessary to hold that many people. The Commissioners and Staff are nestled in the eleven-story John Tyler Building, artfully drawn on this issue's cover. Naturally, PUF was delighted at the opportunity to travel to Richmond virtually. A meaningful day, because PUF is headquartered in Virginia, albeit somewhat north, in another historical area, Arlington.

PUF learned the history of the Virginia Commission too, that it was created in 1902 by the Virginia Constitution, and endowed also with judicial powers. That led to the question when Chair Judith Jagdmann invited PUF via cyberspace into her home office, of whether to call her, Commissioner or Judge? Turns out both are correct, and PUF used the two interchangeably when we met also with Judges Jehmal Hudson and Angela Navarro. Enjoy these conversations with Commissioners and Staff.


Virginia State Corporation Commission conversations: