Largely due to its role in setting the route through the state for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, the Nebraska Public Service Commission has garnered a higher profile over the past few years, including from candidates for political office.
This year is no different, as there are five people seeking the District 1 seat, hoping to replace Frank Landis of Lincoln, who is retiring after serving for 30 years on the commission.
Three Republicans and two Democrats are seeking to represent District 1, which includes Lincoln and covers Lancaster, Gage, Cass, Otoe, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee and Richardson counties.
The seat is elected on a partisan basis, so one person from each party will advance out of the primary to the general election.
There is one other PSC seat up for election, in District 3, which covers Washington, Saunders and Sarpy counties, as well as western Douglas County. Candidates for that race are Democrat Mike Forsythe and Republican incumbent Tim Schram. Both will advance to the general election.
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The Public Service Commission regulates telecommunications carriers, natural gas utilities, major oil pipelines, railroad safety, passenger carriers (such as taxis and ride-hailing services) and household-goods movers, grain warehouses and dealers, modular home and recreational-vehicle construction, high-voltage electric transmission lines and private water company rates.
Its five-member board guides commission staff and has the final say on permitting, rate approval, disciplinary actions and other orders issued by the commission.
The three Republicans seeking election in District 1 are Ron Nolte, a retired farmer and airline pilot from Plattsmouth; Scott Smathers of Lincoln, who is executive director of the Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation; and Dan Watermeier, a farmer and state senator from Syracuse.
On the Democratic side, John Atkeison, a retired activist, will face Christa Yoakum, a program coordinator at Nebraska Appleseed. Both live in Lincoln.
The candidates generally fall along partisan lines when it comes to the Keystone XL pipeline, with both Yoakum and Atkeison saying that they do not support the pipeline, even with the PSC's decision last year to approve an alternate route that more closely follows the route of an existing pipeline owned by TransCanada.
Nolte and Smathers both said they support the pipeline. Watermeier declined to comment on the pipeline specifically, noting that because the siting decision has been appealed, it could wind up in front of the PSC again in the future. But he said he supports increased use of domestic energy sources as well as those from "trusted neighbors," such as Canada.
On some other issues, the partisan line is less clear.
For example, on the question of whether rapid technological change in some industries requires "increased vigilance" from the PSC, Atkeison, Nolte and Watermeier all said that it's required to some degree.
Yoakum said the PSC should not stand in the way of economic opportunity from changing industries, and she advocated for public investment to ensure new technologies create equal opportunities for all Nebraskans.
Smathers equated "increased vigilance" with more regulations and said such a policy blunts competition and leads to higher prices and lower-quality services.
One area where all five candidates are in general agreement is that the PSC has done a good job on regulating the state's utilities fairly and effectively.
2018 Public Service Commission candidates:
2018 Public Service Commission candidates
John Atkeison
John Atkeison
Age:Ìý65
Address:Â 2601 66th St., Unit 1, Lincoln
Occupation:Ìý¸é±ð³Ù¾±°ù±ð»å
Political party:Ìý¶Ù±ð³¾´Ç³¦°ù²¹³Ù
Website:
A lifelong activist, Atkeison has spent the past 15 years organizing around climate issues. He worked as director for climate and clean energy with the Alliance for Affordable Energy from 2007 to 2010, lobbying the Louisiana Public Service Commission. He has also undergone training by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions and interacted with public power utilities in Nebraska.
Do you support last year’s decision by the Public Service Commission to approve an alternative route for the Keystone XL pipeline. Why or why not?
No. Keystone XL and many other examples of fossil fuel infrastructure are dangerous, unnecessary and wasteful. The landowners along the new route had no reason to anticipate this eventuality. Any new commissioner must be prepared to honestly digest already submitted testimony and documents as well as new material. I have a strong history of working against the XL pipeline since 2011.
Do you feel Nebraska’s utilities are regulated fairly and effectively? Explain.
I think it is a mixed experience. While industry's point of view has dominated so far, some of the utilities have taken undue advantage while others have performed much better.
Many industries that are subject to Public Service Commission oversight are undergoing rapid change. Is now a time for increased vigilance, or would that hinder growth?
It is time for constant vigilance and increased alertness for the impact of today's decisions on the future our kids and grandkids will live with. Encouraging industrial growth is not a prime duty of the commission. In the time the previous District 1 Commissioner has served, the impact of climate change on Nebraska has become understood as of urgent concern.
Should regulators be allowed to accept campaign contributions from the industries they regulate? Would you support changing Nebraska law to prohibit that practice?
Certainly not! Most Americans understand that such payments appear to be legal bribes. Why elected officials fail to see that is an unfortunate mystery. The money required to run and serve should come from one source and that is the people who elect the officials, not special interests who may later seek special favors.
Ron Nolte
Ron Nolte
Age: 72
Address:Â 5700 Church Road, Plattsmouth
Occupation:Ìý¸é±ð³Ù¾±°ù±ð»å farmer and airline pilot
Political party:Ìý¸é±ð±è³Ü²ú±ô¾±³¦²¹²Ô
Website:Ìý±·´Ç²Ô±ð
Nolte has been a Cass County commissioner; a member of the Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare board and the Cass County Planning and Zoning Commission; a trustee on the Murray village board; and a member of the Cass County fair board (including chairman of the joint project authority to expand the fairgrounds). He also served on the boards for the Nebraska Trucking Association and Southeast Nebraska Corn Growers Association.
Do you support last year’s decision by the Public Service Commission to approve an alternative route for the Keystone XL pipeline. Why or why not?
I support the vote. The Keystone XL Pipeline has been debated for over a decade. President Trump and Gov. Ricketts support it. I applaud the long-elected experience of commissioners on their decision. As a landowner and former county commissioner, I support the Keystone XL's additional tax revenue for Nebraska. Ultimately, the route will be decided by the Nebraska Supreme Court.
Do you feel Nebraska’s utilities are regulated fairly and effectively? Explain.
Yes. Nebraska is the only state that has public-owned utilities. That is a reason for the low electrical rates. As technology advances there must be constant vigilance to maintain fair and equitable oversight. Currently, our Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee’s LB822 is addressing public information requests.
Many industries that are subject to Public Service Commission oversight are undergoing rapid change. Is now a time for increased vigilance, or would that hinder growth?
Our rapidly changing technology and public demand for service warrant continued oversight. An example is the regulations put in place by the PSC so Uber could compete with licensed taxi cab companies. Enhanced 911 service and rural broadband communications service must be addressed. I do not believe increased vigilance by the PSC will hinder state growth.
Should regulators be allowed to accept campaign contributions from the industries they regulate? Would you support changing Nebraska law to prohibit that practice?
Yes. I doubt Nebraska law will change the practice of regulators accepting campaign contributions from regulated industry. Our Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission closely monitors campaign finance for public records. This is an age-old policy issue, lobbyists working with lawmakers.
Yes. Public service is based upon experience, trust, integrity and leadership, not political parties or appointments.
Scott Smathers
Scott Smathers
Age: 54
Address: 6140 S. Richland Circle, Lincoln
Occupation: Executive director, Nebraska Sportsmen’s Foundation
Political party: Republican
Website:
Smathers has held board positions at several conservation and wildlife groups, including Pheasants Forever and the Big Game Conservation Association. He has served as executive director of the Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation for the past eight years. He is also vice chairman of the Natural Resources Commission and has served on other state advisory committees and task forces.
Do you support last year’s decision by the Public Service Commission to approve an alternative route for the Keystone XL pipeline. Why or why not?
The PSC had a limited scope of authority on what they could use in making their ruling. I would have preferred they ruled specifically on the route requested. I have concerns they might not have had the authority to pick one of the alternate routes. However the ruling is done and the legal process will move it to the next step.
Do you feel Nebraska’s utilities are regulated fairly and effectively? Explain.
I feel that utilities are being regulated fairly. We must continue to strike a balance between the proper amount of regulation and regulations that inhibit growth.
Many industries that are subject to Public Service Commission oversight are undergoing rapid change. Is now a time for increased vigilance, or would that hinder growth?
“Increased vigilance†is another way to say “more regulations.†Therefore I would stand firm against “increased vigilance†that would blunt competition and give advantages to those already in the markets. “Increased vigilance†will therefore create higher prices and lower quality services for customers.
Should regulators be allowed to accept campaign contributions from the industries they regulate? Would you support changing Nebraska law to prohibit that practice?
Any individual or industry should be able to contribute to any candidate that believes in the same ideals in which they believe. To cut out those types of contributions would just lead to self-funded campaigns from the wealthy and shut out the average person from seeking elected office.
Dan Watermeier
Dan Watermeier
Age:Ìý56
Address:Â 2529 J Road, Syracuse
Occupation:Ìý¹ó²¹°ù³¾¾±²Ô²µ
Political party:Ìý¸é±ð±è³Ü²ú±ô¾±³¦²¹²Ô
Website:
Watermeier has decades of experience in public office. He served as a member of the Nemaha Natural Resources District for 12 years and the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission for 10 years, and is serving his second term representing southeast Nebraska's District 1 in the Legislature. As a state senator, he serves on the Appropriations Committee, Performance Audit Committee and Executive Board.
Do you support last year’s decision by the Public Service Commission to approve an alternative route for the Keystone XL pipeline. Why or why not?
Given that the PSC's decision is under appeal, and the Supreme Court could remand the matter to the commission, I am reluctant to comment on the specifics of the decision. I do not want to prejudge a matter. I am a supporter of increasing our country's use of domestic energy sources and sources from trusted neighbors, like Canada.
Do you feel Nebraska’s utilities are regulated fairly and effectively? Explain.
I believe the commission has regulated utilities fairly and effectively. Significant portions of rural Nebraska do not have reliable or any broadband services. We need to insist all telephone companies aggressively deploy broadband, especially if they are receiving federal and state support. If they don't, we must look to alternative means of ensuring all Nebraskans have access to broadband services.
Many industries that are subject to Public Service Commission oversight are undergoing rapid change. Is now a time for increased vigilance, or would that hinder growth?
Telecommunications is an example of an industry undergoing rapid change and evolution. Vigilant oversight is needed to ensure affordable and reliable service especially in areas where little or no competition exists. Where competition exists, we need to be open to looking at easing regulatory burdens and letting the market drive improved and innovative services and lower rates.
Should regulators be allowed to accept campaign contributions from the industries they regulate? Would you support changing Nebraska law to prohibit that practice?
Nebraska has a robust system for ensuring transparency and accountability for all elected officials, including senators and members of the Public Service Commission. I have always abided by the reporting requirements and will continue. I trust Nebraska voters are informed and capable of ensuring that industries don't improperly affect decisions of elected officials. No one has ever bought my vote.
Christa Yoakum
Christa Yoakum
Age:Ìý59
Address:Â 330 N.W. 13th St., Lincoln
Occupation:Â Community organizer, program coordinator
Political party:Ìý¶Ù±ð³¾´Ç³¦°ù²¹³Ù
Website: ,
This is Yoakum's first time seeking public office, but she has held leadership roles within the Democratic Party and been involved in political campaigns for other candidates. She has also served on various community boards and task forces: the YWCA of Lincoln, New Americans Task Force, Lincoln Public Schools strategic planning committee and the LPS high school task force.
Do you support last year’s decision by the Public Service Commission to approve an alternative route for the Keystone XL pipeline. Why or why not?
I do not support the Keystone XL pipeline. First, there are major environmental risks in transporting crude oil through Nebraska. Second, the seizure of family farmland for the pipeline did not respect landowners’ rights. These landowners are being forced into unfair deals that don’t protect them into the future. Keystone XL promises temporary benefits with huge long-term risks for Nebraskans.
Do you feel Nebraska’s utilities are regulated fairly and effectively? Explain.
Over the past three decades, the Public Service Commission has greatly improved fairness and consistency in its regulatory decisions. But it still has room for improvement. Unfortunately, PSC rules are sometimes enforced unequally. That needs to change. As a Public Service Commissioner, I’ll commit to transparent and consistent decisions: Nebraskans deserve a responsible PSC which treats everyone fairly.
Many industries that are subject to Public Service Commission oversight are undergoing rapid change. Is now a time for increased vigilance, or would that hinder growth?
As industries change, the PSC shouldn’t stand in the way of economic opportunity. As commissioner, I’ll push for the responsible use of public funds to invest in new technologies and facilitate equal access to the digital economy. I’ll advocate for a future that works for everyone and make sure that new technological innovations create equal opportunities for all Nebraskans.
Should regulators be allowed to accept campaign contributions from the industries they regulate? Would you support changing Nebraska law to prohibit that practice?
Exorbitant campaign contributions to public service commissioners from regulated industries are deeply concerning. Even the appearance of impropriety could erode trust in the PSC and impede its effectiveness. I would support legislation which sets a reasonable limit on contributions from these industries. I’ll also advocate for greater transparency so the public can easily access information on funding for PSC races.