Burtenshaw reappointed chairman of PUC

CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval on Monday announced that he has reappointed Pahrump native Alaina Burtenshaw to her post as chairman of the Public Utilities Commission.

Burtenshaw’s new term begins Oct. 1 and runs through September 2017.

“The PUC has several important cases on their docket and I felt it was important to reappoint chairwoman Burtenshaw and maintain consistency on the PUC,” Sandoval said. “Alaina has worked diligently and confidently in this leadership position and I am pleased that she has agreed to continue to serve in this manner.”

Burtenshaw has been with the PUCN since 1992. As staff counsel and assistant staff counsel, Burtenshaw was responsible for electric, gas and water cases in Northern and Southern Nevada.

Since 1997, Burtenshaw has been the principal attorney in the larger deferred energy and general rate cases and has represented regulatory operations staff in cases associated with environmental impacts, renewable energy and railroad safety.

Burtenshaw worked in private practice in Las Vegas from 1987 to 1992, where she focused on administrative law. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Idaho State University and her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is a licensed attorney in the state of Nevada.

In November 2012, Burtenshaw was appointed co-vice chairman of the Committee on Water for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.