About Us | Department of Public Service Careers Contact the Vermont Department of Public Service Divisions Announcements, Press Releases, and Requests For Proposals Plans and Reports Policies and Procedures Grant Management System Budget & Performance Measures Document Library Public Advocacy Regulated Utilities Energy Efficiency Utilities Efficiency Renewables Telecommunications and Connectivity Consumer Information and Assistance Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) Overview The Vermont Department of Public Service (Department) is an agency within the executive branch of Vermont state government. Its charge is to represent the public interest in matters regarding energy, telecommunications, water and wastewater. The Department carries out this charge by: Representing the public interest in utility cases before the Public Utility Commission, federal regulatory agencies, and state and federal courts Providing long range planning for the state's energy and telecommunications needs through the Vermont Electric Plan, the Comprehensive Energy Plan, and the Vermont Telecommunications Plan Facilitating broadband expansion Promoting energy efficiency Administering federal energy programs Resolving utility customer complaints Informing the public about utility-related matters Making and administering contracts for the purchase of power on behalf of the state As the public's advocate, the Department is a separate agency from the Vermont Public Utility Commission, which serves as the quasi-judicial or decision-making authority in utility regulatory cases. Commissioner Kerrick Johnson A high-performing senior energy executive and successful tech startup founder, Kerrick Johnson serves as Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service. He had most recently served as Executive Advisor to Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) after having served as VELCO’s Chief Innovation and Communications Officer. Kerrick is a dynamic leader with a broad and deep network of effective working relationships across both the public and private sectors. His record is one of successful creation, development, and collaborative execution of innovative initiatives that deliver value and earn stakeholder trust. Having served in key leadership roles over the past decade of energy sector transformation, Kerrick is recognized as a seasoned, frequently provocative, public speaker, and thought leader who has catalyzed many creative energy sector conversations at diverse conferences, workshops, symposiums, and executive gatherings. Kerrick attended Vermont’s Johnson State College and served four years in the US Air Force as an airborne Russian linguist. Along with his wife Mary Ann, he lives in Middlesex, Vermont. Deputy Commissioner Brittney Wilson Brittney Wilson has been appointed to serve as the PSD's next Deputy Commissioner. Brittney has served as Scott's deputy chief of staff since 2021 and before that, she served as secretary of Civil and Military Affairs since 2017. In those roles, Wilson has advised the Governor on policies, government operations, appointments, and communications. She has also been the policy lead and liaison to the agencies of Transportation, Digital Services, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and the Department of Labor, Public Service, and the Natural Resources Board. Mission The mission of the Vermont Department of Public Service (Department) is to serve all citizens of Vermont through public advocacy, planning, programs, and other actions that meet the public's need for least-cost, environmentally sound, efficient, reliable, secure, sustainable, and safe energy, telecommunications, and regulated utility systems in the state for the short- and long-term. The Department does this by: Promoting the interest of the general public in the provision of the state's regulated public services---electricity, natural gas, telephone, cable television, and to a limited degree water and wastewater Ensuring that the state's telecommunications infrastructure can support a diversified set of services that address the current and potential needs of the state's residents and business entities Protecting the public health and safety and ensuring that safety regulations established by federal and state government for nuclear facilities, natural gas, and certain types of propane installations are met