Ms. Cobos has led the Office of Public Utility Counsel since 2019.
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Lori Cobos — an Austin-based attorney who in recent years has led the state’s watchdog agency for utility consumers — has been named to the Texas Public Utility Commission.
Lori Cobos
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Ms. Cobos’s selection on June 17, calling her a “perfect choice” because of her broad knowledge of utility matters.
Cobos has over 17 years of experience in the Texas electric power industry in both the public and private sector. She served in several senior-level positions at the PUC, including serving as an advisor for two PUC Commissioners, assistant counsel to the PUC executive director, and as a senior policy analyst. She also has served as in-house counsel at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
In April, 2019, Gov. Abbott appointed Ms. Cobos to lead the Office of Public Utility Counsel, a state agency separate from the PUC and that is charged with representing ratepayer interests in utility matters. Her PUC appointment expires in September 2021.
“Throughout her career, Lori has gleaned valuable experience in the power and utility industries, and her most recent leadership role at OPUC makes her a perfect choice for the Public Utility Commission,” said Gov. Abbott in a prepared statement.
Ms. Cobos, who has a law degree from Texas Tech University, will now join fellow commissioners Will McAdams and Peter Lake at the PUC. Both were recently appointed to the regulatory agency after the departure of all three previous commissioners during the political fallout after Winter Storm Uri.
Historically, the PUC has three members. However, under the provisions of recently adopted Senate Bill 2154 by state Sen. Charles Schwertner, the agency will gain two additional commissioners. That legislation, however, has yet to be signed by the governor.