TOPEKA — Commissioner Shari Feist Albrechthas been elected to serve as Chair of the Kansas Corporation Commission, according to a news release issued today by the KCC.

Albrecht was appointed by Gov. Sam Brownback and has served on the commission since August 2012.

Prior to the KCC, Albrecht served as Associate Chief Counsel at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, where she worked since 1993.

Albrecht is a licensed attorney who earned her B.A. at the University of Kansas and her J.D. at Washburn University School of Law. She was previously a supervisor of the Environmental Practice Group of the KDHE, and has served as a Director for the Oil and Gas Conservation Division with the Kansas Corporation Commission.

Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and serve staggered four-year terms. State law provides that no more than two of the three commissioners may belong to the same political party. The Commission acts as an independent regulatory agency with authority to render judgments and decisions on regulated utilities. Nominations are subject to approval by the Kansas Senate.

Albrecht’s term expires March 15, 2016.