Sally Doty was nominated last month by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, and senators confirmed her to the post on Monday. Photo by Imani Khayyam

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A former state senator has been confirmed as director of the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff.

Sally Doty was nominated last month by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, and senators confirmed her to the post on Monday.

The Public Utilities Staff analyzes proposals and provides advice to the three elected members of the Public Service Commission.

The commission regulates utilities. The Public Utilities Staff is a separate entity that negotiates agreements with utility companies about rates and other issues that are ultimately voted on by the commissioners.

Doty is an attorney from Brookhaven, and she was in her third term as a Republican state senator when Reeves chose her for the new job. She is a former chairwoman of the Senate Energy Committee.

Doty succeeds Virden Jones, who had led the Public Utilities Staff since 2011. His time in that job expired July 1.