WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The chairman of a state board leading an agency that represents home and small-business utility consumers has resigned, partially out of frustration over major changes other board members are considering for the agency. Brian Weber, of Garden City, announced his resignation from the Citizens' Utility Ratepayer Board Wednesday. It comes five days after other board members discussed either dissolving the agency or changing its mission to focus on fighting federal clean-air regulations. The Wichita Eagle reports that last week, the board also stripped acting consumer counsel Niki Christopher of her roles of representing consumers in the Legislature and of speaking to the news media about utility matters. CURB is usually the only legal party representing residential customers and small businesses in rate cases before the Kansas Corporation Commission.
