Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Jay Balasbas commissioner of the Utilities and Transportation Commission in February 2017.

Balasbas had served as senior budget assistant to the governor in the Office of Financial Management since 2012 working in the General Government Section and then in the Transportation Section. He also served as lead analyst on revenue. Jay 
previously worked for the Washington House of Representatives in a variety of roles, including senior fiscal analyst, assistant director of policy and policy analyst on transportation and finance issues. Balasbas also worked for the Washington Department of Transportation.

Jay currently serves as a member of the Committee on Gas for the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC).

Balasbas has a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Master of Science in finance from Seattle University.