Something is stirring at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and it has nothing to do with rate making or the latest request from a utility.
It is the politics of the agency as an agenda for a “regular” meeting revealed when it was released Monday afternoon. The agenda for the 1:30 p.m. meeting focuses squarely on Brandy Wreath, the Director of Administration who was named to the position two years ago.
The agenda proposed a possible executive session about the job Wreath is doing. It apparently is not a matter of “promoting” Wreath because the agenda pointed out the commissioners wants to discuss the Director’s “performance, employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining, resignation, termination, compensation, severance benefits, and/or separation agreement.”
The agenda further stated the commissioners want to discuss “specific candidate(s) for and the hiring and appointment, and possible start date and compensation, of an interim or successor Director of Administration.”
The commission also might go into executive session for some of the discussion and decisions. However, the agenda also stated another intent: “Discussion of and possible vote(s) regarding possible amendments to the duties of the Director of Administration position.”
Reports vary but Wreath’s salary was reported to be $161,000 a year. His online bio showed:
Brandy Wreath was appointed by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) in June 2022 to serve as Director of Administration and the agency’s Appointing Authority. As Director, Brandy is responsible for the day-to-day operation of OCC, including its four core divisions, annual $68 million budget, more than 500 employees, regulated companies, and our state’s four million-plus consumers. Prior to his appointment, Brandy served as Director of the OCC’s Public Utility Division (PUD)
Joining the Commission in 2006, Brandy served as a PUD senior auditor and expert witness in multiple public utility cases. As PUD’s Chief of Energy, Brandy was appointed to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commission’s (NARUC) subcommittee on natural gas and still serves in this capacity. He has represented NARUC as an international delegate to India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Resource Board.
Prior to coming to OCC, Brandy worked in the banking industry serving in sales, service, and management capacities. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mid America University in 1998 with a B.S. in Business Management and Ethics.
A. Call to order
B. Announcement concerning public notice
C. Determination of quorum
II A. Possible executive session pursuant to 25 O.S. § 307(B)(1) for the purpose of (1) discussing the Director of Administration’s performance, employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining, resignation, termination, compensation, severance benefits, and/or separation agreement; and (2) discussing specific candidate(s) for and the hiring and appointment, and possible start date and compensation, of an interim or successor Director of Administration
B. Possible vote on whether to go into executive session for the purpose(s) stated
C. Executive session if approved by majority vote. No votes shall be taken during the executive session
D. If executive session is conducted, then at its conclusion re-assemble in the public meeting room to vote to return to open session
E. Discussion of and possible vote(s) on matter(s) listed for executive session regardless of whether executive session is conducted
III Discussion of and possible vote(s) regarding possible amendments to the duties of the Director of Administration position
IV New business
A. Any matter not known about and which could not have been reasonably foreseen 24
hours before the meeting
B. Possible vote(s) on matters of new business
V Adjournment