Commissioner Christi Craddick Elected Chairman of the RRC

Commissioner Christi Craddick Elected Chairman of the RRC

AUSTIN, Texas - RRC Commissioners today unanimously elected Commissioner Christi Craddick to serve as Chairman of the three-member Commission, reaffirming her leadership of the state's oldest regulatory agency and one of the nation's most influential energy regulators.

"I am deeply honored by the confidence my fellow Commissioners have placed in me," Chairman Christi Craddick said. "Texas is the energy capital of the world because of the hardworking men and women who produce the resources that fuel our economy, power our communities, and strengthen our national security. I look forward to continuing to work alongside my fellow Commissioners to ensure the RRC remains a fair, effective, and transparent regulator while protecting public safety and the environment."

"I congratulate Commissioner Christi Craddick on her election as Chairman of the RRC," said Commissioner Wayne Christian. "Her prior experience as Chairman will serve the agency well as we continue to improve agency efficiency, protect Texas' natural resources, advance energy abundance and support Texas jobs."

"It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Chairman of the RRC over the past year, and as my tenure comes to an end, I know the RRC will be in good hands under the leadership of Chairman Craddick," said Commissioner Jim Wright. "Commissioner Craddick has a long and proven record of capably leading the RRC as Chairman. Her leadership since joining the Commission has played an important role in the resurgence of Texas energy dominance. I congratulate her on her election as Chairman of the RRC and look forward to working together to ensure Texas remains a global leader in energy production."

As Chairman, Craddick will continue leading the Commission as it oversees Texas' oil and natural gas industry, pipeline safety, natural gas utilities, critical energy infrastructure and the state's surface coal and uranium mining operations. The Commission regulates an industry that supports millions of jobs, generates billions in state and local tax revenue and plays a vital role in meeting the nation's growing energy needs.

Since first being elected statewide in 2012, Craddick has focused on strengthening the agency by modernizing its operations, enhancing transparency and ensuring Texas maintains a predictable regulatory framework that encourages responsible energy development. During her tenure, the Commission has made significant investments in technology modernization, expanded efforts to address orphaned wells and continued to implement legislative priorities to improve efficiency and accountability.

The RRC, established in 1891, is the state's oldest regulatory agency and has primary regulatory authority over the exploration, production and transportation of oil and natural gas, pipeline safety, natural gas utilities and surface mining operations throughout Texas.