April 7th, 2023 by WCBC Radio

Governor Wes Moore announced that Delegate Kumar Barve will be appointed to the Public Service Commission. The appointment will occur after the 2023 legislative session. 

“I am proud to announce the selection of Delegate Kumar Barve to serve on the Public Service Commission. He is a veteran of the Maryland House of Delegates and his leadership within the Environment and Transportation Committee makes him the ideal candidate for this role.” said Gov. Moore. “I am confident in Delegate Barve’s ability to bolster my administration’s commitment to environmental stewardship while ensuring ratepayers are protected.”

The Public Service Commission regulates public utilities and certain passenger transportation companies doing business in Maryland. The commission’s jurisdiction extends to taxicabs operating in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Cumberland, and Hagerstown.

Delegate Kumar Barve was the first Indian-American elected to a state legislature in the United States. He has been a member of the House of Delegates since January 1991. While representing District 17 in Montgomery County, he served as Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee since 2015. He served as Democratic House Majority Leader from 2003-2015. 

Delegate Barve’s various policy accomplishments include economic development, environmental regulation, energy generation, energy conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, and tax policy. He sponsored several climate change laws, led Maryland’s effort to promote high tech job creation, and was a central player in closing corporate tax loopholes and in transforming Maryland’s tax code to be more progressive.

Delegate Barve also has more than 40 years of experience as an accountant. He has been the Chief Financial Officer of the Environmental Management Services, Inc. since 1993; he was the Financial Manager of UNISYS Corporation from 1987 to 1990; and from 1981-1987, he was the Economic/Proposal Manager of the Space Communications Corporation.

Delegate Barve earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Georgetown University. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including:

• 2017 League of Conservation Voters Legislator of the Year

• 2013 India Abroad Lifetime Service Award

• 2006 and 2008 Tech Council of Maryland Technology Advocate of the Year

• 2003 and 2004 University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute Technology Leadership Award

• 1996 Mid-Atlantic Venture Association Advocacy Award

• 1995, 1996, 2000, and 2005 Montgomery County Medical Society, Legislator of the Year