COLUMBIA, S.C. - State legislators have nominated a former member of the state Public Service Commission to lead a new staff that will investigate utility companies but remain separate from the regulatory agency.

Administrative Law Judge C. Dukes Scott has been nominated to lead the investigative staff that will represent both consumer and business interests.

Gov. Mark Sanford has until May 1 to accept the nomination.

Lawmakers are creating the separate entity to help reduce the potential for bias at the PSC, which sets utility prices and regulates companies. There have been concerns about inappropriate contact between commissioners and the companies they regulate, so the Legislature recently reformed the agency to include the new staff as well as tougher qualifications for commissioners.

"I hope I do a good job and represent the public's interest and am viewed as very fair," Scott said after a General Assembly committee recommended him Tuesday.

As head of the staff, Scott will make between $115,000 and $145,000 a year, but lawmakers said the exact amount is subject to negotiations.

Scott was one of three candidates before the committee. As a lawyer, Scott represented some water and sewer utilities and a telecommunication company, but none of those businesses still exists, he said.

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Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com/