With little fanfare, the Republican-controlled Senate on Friday confirmed two of the governor’s appointees to serve on the Public Utilities Commission, or PUC.

Republican Wendy Moser was confirmed by a vote of 30-4.

Democrat Jeff Ackermann was confirmed by a vote of 26-8. He serves as chairman of the commission.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, appointed the commissioners in January.

Most of the fireworks over the appointments were seen Thursday when the two PUC picks were vetted in a Senate committee.

Republicans and Democrats thoroughly questioned the appointees over spiking electric rates, federal carbon pollution standards and the potential for bias.

As a former executive for Black Hills Energy, which serves the Pueblo community, Moser was questioned about her ability to remain impartial in making decisions governing the embattled Black Hills Energy and other utilities across the state.

Ackermann was questioned over his former role as the executive director of the Colorado Energy Office. The Energy Office has been a popular target for Republicans, who criticized it for being unable to justify tens of millions of dollars in spending over a six-year period. Those revelations came from a 2013 audit. The office has since made “significant improvements,” according to a follow-up review.

Moser was largely asked about whether should could remain impartial given an ongoing issue with Black Hills Energy. The utility is a target because it has some of the highest electric rates in the state. Despite the high rates, Black Hills requested that the PUC approve an additional $8.5 million in annual revenue.

The PUC, under Commissioner Frances Koncilja and former commissioners Joshua Epel and Genn Vaad, in December issued a written decision lowering the request to less than $1 million per year. Black Hills has asked for a reconsideration of the December decision.

Ackermann saw blowback over the federal Clean Power Plan. Republicans wanted to know whether Ackermann could fairly evaluate issues surrounding carbon pollution standards given his previous role with the Energy Office.

But much of the controversy seen in the committee hearing evaporated as the Senate quickly pushed the two confirmations forward.

Pete Maysmith, executive director of Conservation Colorado, said he was encouraged,

“We’re pleased that the Senate has confirmed these two strong and qualified candidates, and we look forward to working with them,” Maysmith said. “In the face of the devastating impacts of climate change that we’re already seeing in Colorado, we must do everything we can to achieve the cleanest air in the nation and grow a robust clean energy economy.”