State Senate Confirms New UTC Commissioner

Last week, the Washington State Senate unanimously confirmed Jay Balasbas as commissioner of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.

Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Balasbas to a six-year term that runs until Jan. 1, 2023. Balasbas joins Chairman David Danner and Commissioner Ann Rendahl on the three-member panel. 

Balasbas has been serving as senior budget assistant to the governor in the Office of Financial Management since 2012. He worked for the Washington House of Representatives in a variety of roles, including senior fiscal analyst, assistant director of policy, and policy analyst. Balasbas also worked for the Department of Transportation.

Balasbas is a graduate of Seattle University and has a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s in finance.

His first day at the commission will be May 1.

The UTC regulates the rates and services of the state’s investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities, landline telephone companies, solid waste haulers, private water systems and residential movers among other industries. The agency also manages the state’s pipeline, railroad and intrastate bus and trucking safety programs.