§ 4. The public service commission. 1. There shall be in the
department of public service a public service commission, which shall
possess the powers and duties hereinafter specified, and also all powers
necessary or proper to enable it to carry out the purposes of this
chapter. The commission shall consist of five members, to be appointed
by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate. A
commissioner shall be designated as chairman of the commission by the
governor to serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the governor or
until his term as commissioner expires whichever first occurs. At least
one commissioner shall have experience in utility consumer advocacy. No
more than three commissioners may be members of the same political party
unless, pursuant to action taken under subdivision two of this section,
the number of commissioners shall exceed five, and in such event no more
than four commissioners may be members of the same political party.

2. Notwithstanding subdivision one, whenever the commission shall
certify to the governor that additional commissioners are needed for the
proper disposition of the business before it, the governor may increase
the membership of the commission to seven members by appointing two
additional commissioners by and with the advice and consent of the
senate. The terms of office of such additional commissioners and the
filling of vacancies during such terms shall be governed by subdivision
three, except that upon the expiration of the terms of such additional
commissioners, no further appointments or reappointments shall be made
to such additional offices, unless the commission shall first certify to
the governor that the need for additional commissioners continues to
exist.

3. The term of office of a commissioner shall be six years from the
first day of February of the calendar year in which he shall be
appointed and commissioners shall serve on a full-time basis. Upon a
vacancy occuring otherwise than by expiration of term in the office of
any commissioner, the governor, by and with the advice and consent of
the senate, shall fill the vacancy by appointment for the unexpired
term.

4. Any commissioner appointed on or after July first, two thousand
twenty-two, pursuant to this section shall have education and training,
and three or more years of experience in one or more of the following
fields: economics, engineering, law, accounting, business management,
utility regulation, public policy, consumer advocacy or environmental
management.