Gov. Rick Scott has selected Public Service Commissioner Lisa Edgar, the longest-serving member on the panel, from a short list of four nominees to serve another four-year term, Scott announced in a press release tonight. The appointment is subject to Florida Senate confirmation.

“I am grateful for the governor’s confidence and I am excited about working with my collegues on behalf of Florida’s ratepayers and Florida’s future,” Edgar said.

Edgar, 49, has served on the commission since 2005. Gov. Jeb Bush first appointed her to the $130,000-a-year job. She was reappointed by Gov. Charlie Crist.

“During her eight years on the Public Service Commission, Lisa has demonstrated the ability to review complex issues and show fairness in considering those issues,” Scott said in a statement. “I am confident her experience will allow her to continue to be an effective commissioner.”

Edgar weathered a PSC dust-up involving BlackBerry messages exposed during a proposed Florida Power & Light rate hike in 2009. Edgar was cleared of wrongdoing by the Florida Commission on Ethics after in investigation into whether she broke state law by communicating through her aide with a Florida Power & Light Co. executive during a hearing. The ethics panel found no probable cause that Edgar violated state ethics laws.

PSC critic Sen. Mike Fasano, a New Port Richey Republican running for the state House, urged Scott to reject Edgar, saying she represented the “old guard” with ties too close to the utility industry.

Tags: bnblogs, Lisa Edgar, PSC, Public Service Commission, Rick Scott

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