April 25, 2012

GOV. MALLOY RE-NOMINATES JACK BETKOSKI AS A DIRECTOR OF PURA

PURA Chairman DelGobbo Declines Re-Nomination

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he has re-nominated John W. "Jack" Betkoski, III of Beacon Falls to serve as a Director of the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

Betkoski was named a Commissioner of the Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) in 1997, and elected its Vice Chairman in 2007. He was later appointed by Governor Malloy to serve as an interim Director of PURA in 2011 and again elected Vice Chairman after DPUC was merged into the state's newly consolidated Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and reorganized into its current structure.

PURA serves as the state's public utilities regulatory entity and is statutorily charged with regulating the rates and services of Connecticut's investor-owned electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunication companies and is the franchising authority for the state's cable television companies.

"Jack Betkoski has a keen knowledge of the state's utility companies, especially when it comes to water and energy utility issues," Governor Malloy said. "I am grateful for his decision to continue his service on PURA and look forward to working with him on implementing policies that benefit our state."

"Connecticut has set a positive agenda to drive down energy costs, to build a clean energy future and to improve the reliability of electric service," Betkoski said. "I look forward to the opportunity to help move us toward these goals."

In addition to his role with PURA, Betkoski is currently Chairman of the Connecticut Water Planning Council and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), serving as Vice Chair of its Consumer Affairs Committee. He formerly served as NARUC's Chairman of the Committee on Water and its Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Education and Research and was also a member of the EPA National Drinking Water Advisory Council, serving on its Water Security Working Group. Betkoski is a member of the AWWA Research Foundation's Public Council on Drinking Water Research.

Governor Malloy also received formal notification from PURA Director and current Chairman Kevin M. DelGobbo that he is declining the Governor's offer for re-nomination and intends to resign from his current position effective May 11.

"Since 2009, Kevin has led DPUC and PURA in charting sound energy policy for the state," Governor Malloy said. "I am especially grateful for his service this past year in responding to the two devastating storms that impacted Connecticut, and in particular helping my administration craft policy that will improve service and reliability for residents. I am very sorry Kevin has not accepted my offer to reappoint him. He has brought honor and professionalism to his position, and his departure is a loss for all of Connecticut."

"I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to you for the high honor of offering to nominate me to serve as a Director of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. However, I must most respectfully decline that offer," DelGobbo wrote in a letter to the Governor . "Please know the abiding excitement that I continue to share for the vision you have set forth in establishing energy policy for this state. I believe that Connecticut has charted a course in this arena that will benefit our citizens, businesses and the environment for generations to come. After serious reflection, I have determined that I wish to pursue other personal and professional endeavors at this time."

PURA has three Director positions. In addition to Betkoski, Governor Malloy on Tuesday nominated Arthur H. House to fill a separate vacancy that existed in the Authority. The Governor will immediately begin searching for a nominee to fill DelGobbo's seat.

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For Immediate Release: April 25, 2012

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