Public Utilities Commission chairman James (Jay) Griffin has told Gov. David Ige that he will be stepping down from the PUC at the end of his term, which expires on June 30.

Griffin has served on the PUC since June 5, 2017. Ige designated him as PUC chairman in January 2019.

“I would like to thank Governor Ige for this opportunity to serve at the PUC,” Griffin said in a press release from the Ige administration. “Our commission has led groundbreaking work in the regulation of public utilities and made significant progress towards the state’s clean energy goals. I’ve been very fortunate to work with an outstanding team of public servants.”

Ige will nominate Griffin’s replacement in the coming months.

The position is subject to Hawaii State Senate confirmation.

The PUC, its website explains, regulates all chartered, franchised, certificated and registered public utility companies operating in the state.

It also reviews and approves rates, tariffs, charges and fees, and acts on requests for acquisition, sale, disposition or other exchange of utility properties, including mergers and consolidations.