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Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Ind. Gov't. - Governor appoints two to the Utility Regulatory Commission

There are a number of stories today on the Daniels appointments. Here is the Governor's press release. The last paragraph reads:

Following two application periods and two rounds of interviews, the IURC Nominating Committee, headed by Mike Sample, recommended six candidates for the governor’s consideration based on education and academic honors received, professional experience and reputation, financial interests in the utility industry, and public service.
An ILB entry from August 17 gives the names and backgrounds of the six nominees.

the Indianapolis Star reports the appointments today in its Busiess Section, in a story by J.K. Wall headlined: "Utility insiders will now regulate their industry: Watchdog criticizes appointments as letting 'fox guard the henhouse.'" Some quotes:

Gov. Mitch Daniels Tuesday named two men with experience in the utility industry to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, immediately drawing criticism from the state's most active consumer group.

David Lott Hardy, a Fort Wayne attorney and a former lawyer for PSI Energy, was named chairman. Greg Server, a Republican state senator and utility executive from Evansville, also was appointed to the board.

Jerry Polk, an attorney for the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, bristled at the action.

"I don't consider having employment experience at one of the utility companies a good thing. It's like having a fox guard the henhouse," Polk said.

Daniels spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said, "We would be foolish not to capitalize on utilizing individuals who bring as much knowledge as these two individuals do."

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has a story today by Niki Kelly headlined "Local attorney will head state utility commission" Some quotes:
INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mitch Daniels on Tuesday named a Fort Wayne attorney as chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which controls rates and oversees other financial aspects of more than 600 utility companies in Indiana.

David Lott Hardy, 61, has focused on utility-related law throughout much of his career. Since 1997, he has worked out of his Fort Wayne home providing legal or consulting help on utility issues and has expertise in negotiation, contracts, litigation, finance and administration. * * *

Hardy doesn’t have an over-aggressive agenda in mind, saying he wanted to first focus on learning the ropes of the job from current chair William McCarty, whose term expired in April. He has continued to serve until his successor was named.

From 1985 to 1997, Hardy worked at several law firms in Louisville, often representing large companies as ratepayers in rate adjustment cases.

He has been intrigued by public utilities since college and got his first taste in the field when he went to work for Public Service Co. of Indiana in Plainfield in 1969. He left 16 years later as assistant general counsel.

Hardy will be chairman of the five-member commission, which regulates electric, natural gas, telecommunications, steam, water and sewer utilities. * * *

Hardy appears to be a bit of an enigma in Allen County. On Tuesday, after his appointment, several local Republicans and Democrats couldn’t identify him and had no information about him. A native Hoosier, Hardy was born in Bluffton and grew up in Geneva. As for his low profile? He simply says he has led a temperate life and is not a politician.

In contrast, State Senator Greg Server of Evansville was the other appointee. Jennifer Whitson of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports today:
INDIANAPOLIS - Evansville state Sen. Greg Server will resign his Senate seat to take an Indianapolis-based utility regulatory job.

Gov. Mitch Daniels announced Server's appointment Tuesday afternoon and Server said he will sell his Evansville house and move to Indianapolis to begin work as soon as possible.

The appointment is to a full-time post on the five-member Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission that oversees what utilities can charge consumers and signs off on the company's financial dealings. It pays $87,223 annually.

"It's a very challenging time for the IURC," Server said, listing expanding broadband coverage and maintaining cheap electric rates to spur economic development as examples.

Server has served in the state Senate since 1980 and before that served for years in the House of Representatives. "You get a lot of satisfaction in helping make things happen," he said. "It's been a great experience."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 24, 2005 07:58 AM
Posted to Indiana Government