press releases
For Immediate Release: November 17, 2016
Contact: Regina L. Davis, 202-898-9382, rdavis@naruc.org
WASHINGTON—Commissioner Robert Powelson of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission was installed as the 128th president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners during the Annual Meeting in La Quinta, California, November 13-16. At the meeting, several resolutions were passed, officers were elected and panels were convened focused on energy and public utility regulation.
Powelson follows the successful term of Immediate Past President Travis Kavulla of Montana.
“I am honored to continue moving the Association forward in its 128th year, as NARUC continues the challenging work of representing the interests of state commissions,” said President Powelson. “I thank our immediate past president, Travis Kavulla, for his steadfast commitment and dedication to the Association and its mission. We have an excellent Board of Directors and Executive Committee, with whom I look forward to leading the Association through the next year.”
NARUC is the national association representing the state utility regulators who regulate essential utility services such as electricity, telecommunications, gas, water and transportation.
As president, Powelson’s duties will include providing general oversight of the Association; serving as NARUC’s primary voice; and representing NARUC before Congress, the courts and administrative agencies. He will also be responsible for designating members to the NARUC Board of Directors, committee leadership positions and other Association appointments as necessary. His theme for the coming year is Infrastructure, Innovation, and Investment: Driving the Future of Regulation.
“It is my pleasure to congratulate Commissioner Powelson on his installation as NARUC President,” said Kavulla. “I am confident that he will provide outstanding leadership and service to the Association and its members. Commissioner Powelson is an experienced regulator and understands the challenges faced by regulators and will be an instrumental force in ensuring that state perspectives are heard and that we always have a seat at the table for national utility and energy discussions.”
Powelson’s elevation signaled other changes in the Association’s Executive Committee. Commissioner John Betkoski III of Connecticut is now the first vice president and Commissioner Ellen Nowak, chair of the Wisconsin Commission, is the second vice president. Each will serve a one-year term.
The following commissioners were confirmed as members of the Board of Directors: Margaret E. Curran of Rhode Island, Mark Vannoy of Maine and Nick Wagner of Iowa. Reappointment confirmations since the last meeting included Bob Stump of Arizona, Ronald Brise of Florida, Judith W. Jagdmann of Virginia, Robert R. Scott of New Hampshire and Brien Sheahan of Illinois.
Resolutions
Also, at the meeting, substantive resolutions were passed and approved by the NARUC Board of Directors in the areas of critical infrastructure, electricity, gas, telecommunications and water as follows:
CI-1 Resolution Encouraging State Utility Commissions to Consider Improving the Regulatory Treatment of Cloud Computing Arrangements
EL-1 Resolution Supporting Extension of the Nuclear Production Tax Credit
EL-2 Resolution Regarding the Enforcement of PURPA Standards and Regulations
EL-3 Resolution on the National Council on Electricity Policy
EL-4 Resolution Regarding Federal Trade Commission Intrusion into State Jurisdiction on Distributed Generation Policy
ERE-1 Resolution Regarding Federal Trade Commission Intrusion into State Jurisdiction on Distributed Generation Policy
ERE-2 Resolution on the National Council on Electricity Policy
GS-1 Resolution Encouraging State Utility Commissions to Consider Improving the Regulatory Treatment of Cloud Computing Arrangements
TC-1 Resolution on Requested Waivers to Implement the FCC’s Lifeline Reform Order
TC-2 Ensuring Timely State Access to CAF ETC Reporting Data
TC-3 Resolution to Assure States a Meaningful Opportunity to Comment on VoIP Applications for Telephone Numbers
TC-4 Resolution to Adopt a “Best Practices” to Implement a More Ubiquitous 10-Digit Dialing for State Public Utility Commission Efforts
WA-1 Resolution Encouraging State Utility Commissions to Consider Improving the Regulatory Treatment of Cloud Computing Arrangements
The final and honorary resolutions can be read in their entirety on NARUC’s website at http://bit.ly/2f3S24B.
In addition to the resolutions, the NARUC Board approved the rename of the former Subcommittee on Utility Marketplace Access to the Subcommittee on Supplier and Workforce Diversity.
Panel Discussions
Along with the normal business activities of the Association, committee meetings and general sessions focused on topics relevant for state utility regulators and their stakeholders.
Tony Clark, former commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and past president of NARUC engaged in a discussion with Kavulla during the opening general session on Monday. Tuesday’s general session featured a panel representing energy and telecommunications who offered insights on the new administration’s policies in these sectors.
Committee and concurrent sessions included a debate on nuclear energy, stakeholder processes, broadband, Lifeline, mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity, FOIA, wholesale markets for water, methane regulation, and natural gas and a closing session reviewing the DER manual.
The Committee on International Relations presented the 2016 Terry Barnich Award during Monday’s general session. The award honors the memory of Terrence “Terry” Barnich, former chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission who was killed on Memorial Day in 2009 while working as the deputy director of the State Department office in Iraq. This year’s recipients are Commissioner Phillip B. Jones of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and Raj Addepalli, PhD, of the New York Public Service Commission.
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Related:
Jones, Addepalli Honored with NARUC's Barnich Award for International Work
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NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of State public utility commissions before the three branches of the Federal government.
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