Topeka ? Gov. Mark Parkinson has appointed a former southwest Kansas legislator to the state commission that regulates utilities.

The appointment of Ward Loyd to the Kansas Corporation Commission was announced Wednesday and must be confirmed by the state Senate.

Loyd is an attorney from Garden City. He served as a Republican in the Kansas House from 1999 to 2007 and sat on the utilities and judiciary committees.

The KCC regulates rates and services provided by public utilities and motor carriers.