The attorney general shall appoint five members and the governor shall appoint four members to a consumer advisory panel to meet at the request of the consumer advocate for consultation regarding public utility regulation. A member shall be appointed from each congressional district with the appointee residing within the congressional district at the time of appointment. The remaining appointees shall be members at large. No more than five members shall belong to the same political party as provided in section 69.16. Not more than a simple majority of the members shall be of the same gender. The members appointed by the attorney general shall serve four-year terms at the pleasure of the attorney general and their appointments are not subject to confirmation. The members appointed by the governor shall serve four-year terms at the pleasure of the governor and their appointments are not subject to confirmation. The governor or attorney general shall fill a vacancy in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the member’s term. Members of the consumer advisory panel shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses from funds appropriated to the consumer advocate division.