Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Courtney Hjaltman as Chief Executive and Public Counsel for the Office of Public Utility Counsel for a term set to expire on February 1, 2023. Hjaltman will begin serving at OPUC on December 19, 2022. OPUC represents residential and small commercial consumers in the electric, telecommunications, and water and wastewater utility industries in Texas. The Public Counsel oversees the overall operation of OPUC and leads OPUC’s representation of consumers in utility matters at state and federal regulatory agencies and courts. Courtney Hjaltman of Austin currently serves as Deputy Legislative Director for Governor Abbott. Hjaltman has 16 years of state service, including experience as a Chief of Staff in the Texas House of Representatives and as a legislative staffer in the Texas Senate.