(Indianapolis, Ind.) - David Lott Hardy has been fired as the chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. 

Governor Mitch Daniels terminated Hardy from the job Tuesday due to an ethics violation. 

His firing is related to Scott Storms’ leaving his post as the commission's general counsel last month to work for Duke Energy of Indiana.

The governor’s office said Storms was in communication with Duke regarding the job at the same time the company was at the focus of IURC administrative hearings.

“The agency head was aware of the communications and did not remove the lawyer from matters for which the lawyer was not conflicted," read a memo from Governor Daniels' general counsel David Pippen.

IURC Commissioner Jim Atterholt was immediately appointed the commission’s new chair.