Bill would limit utility jobs for ex-PSC members

The bill has the support of the Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group and Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager.

The state Ethics Board says in a recent statement it supports the concept but takes no position on this bill because the restrictions are limited to one agency rather than all of state government, and because the penalties proposed a year in jail and a fine of up to $50,000 "might be too severe."

Black said current law prohibits former commissioners from appearing at an official PSC proceeding on behalf of a utility but said that "does not prevent them from accepting a utility job or otherwise profiting from representing that utility."