The commission may appoint one or more advisory committees to assist it in carrying out its duties under this chapter. Committees appointed to evaluate sites or corridors considered for designation must be composed of as many persons as may be appointed by the commission, but must include a majority of public representatives; at least one representative from the state department of agriculture, a public or municipally owned utility, a private investor-owned utility, and a cooperatively owned utility; and one representative from each county and city in which a gas or liquid energy conversion facility or gas or liquid transmission facility is proposed to be located. Members of advisory committees are entitled to be reimbursed, within the limits of legislative appropriations, for any necessary expenses in the amounts provided by law for state officials.