PSC Commissioner Lamar Davis takes over as regulatory liaison for grid operator MISO

Former Arkansas Public Service Commissioner Lamar Davis has been named executive director of government and regulatory affairs for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (MISO) South Region. Davis, a native of North Little Rock, will serve as MISO’s primary liaison with the governors and state regulatory and legislative policymakers in the MISO South region.

“MISO is truly honored and excited to have Lamar join our team,” said Todd Hillman, vice president of the MISO’s South Region. “We look forward to Lamar representing MISO South and the work we are doing to facilitate collaboration among state regulators, policymakers and stakeholders.”

In March 2015, Carmel, Ind.-based MISO official christened its new $22 million state-of-the art command center in west Little Rock that oversees the grid operator’s four-state South region that encompasses all or part of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Nationwide, the regional grid operator oversees power transmission across a 15-state region stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to Manitoba, Canada.

Davis, an attorney, received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts Political Science from Dillard University in New Orleans. He was appointed to the PSC by former Gov. Mike Beebe in January 2015. Prior to the appointment, Davis served eight years as deputy chief of staff for Beebe. He will begin in his new position MISO on Thursday, Dec. 1.

Davis’ professional background also includes serving as an assistant Attorney General in Arkansas’ Consumer Protection Department, teaching consumer law as an adjunct professor at the William H. Bowen School of Law in Little Rock and serving as a law clerk for the Arkansas Appeals Court.

Last week, Gov. Asa Hutchinson tabbed Little Rock native Kimberly O’Guinn to replace Davis, who resigned after serving less than two years in his post on the three-member regulatory panel that oversees the state’s utility industry.