Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

	Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
	; ;
	General information
Office Type:	Non-partisan
Office website:	Official Link
2012-2013 FY Budget:	$25,314,215
Total Seats:	5
Term limits:	None
	Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	General Statutes of Connecticut, 277-16-1(b),2
Leadership:	Arthur House
Selection Method:	Appointed by the governor
	Other Connecticut Executive Offices
	Governor•Lieutenant Governor•Secretary of State•Attorney General•Treasurer•Comptroller•Commissioner of Education•Agriculture Commissioner•Insurance Commissioner•Energy & Environmental Protection Commissioner•Labor Commissioner•Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

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Current officeholder

Michael Caron is the current director of PURA. He was appointed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy (D) in July 2012 and he must be confirmed in the 2013 session of the General Assembly.^[2]^[3] The current chairman is Arthur House and John Betkoski, III is Vice Chairman.^[4]

Authority

General Statutes of Connecticut, 277-16-1(b),2

There shall be a Department of Public Utility Control. The department head shall be the chairperson of the Public Utilities Control Authority; There shall continue to be a Public Utilities Control Authority, which shall consist of five electors of this state, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of both houses of the General Assembly.

^[5]

Qualifications

According to Chapter 277, Section 16-2(e), to qualify for service one must have "three or more years of experience in one or more of the following fields: Economics, engineering, law, accounting, finance, utility regulation, public or government administration, consumer advocacy, business management, and environmental management."

Appointments

Public Utilities Regulatory Authority are appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the state legislature. The authority serves at the governor's pleasure for four year terms beginning on the first day of March in the year of his appointment.^[6]

General Statutes of Connecticut, 277-16-2(a),(b)

There shall continue to be a Public Utilities Control Authority, which shall consist of five electors of this state, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of both houses of the General Assembly. Not more than three members of said authority in office at any one time shall be members of any one political party. On or before July 1, 1983, and quadrennially thereafter, the Governor shall appoint three members to the authority and on or before July 1, 1985, and quadrennially thereafter, the Governor shall appoint two members. All such members shall serve for a term of four years. ... The authority shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson each June for one-year terms starting on July first of the same year. The vice-chairperson shall perform the duties of the chairperson in his absence.

Term limits

There are no term limits associated with the office.

Vacancies

As with all state appointive offices, vacancies in the offices of Public Utilities Regulatory Authority are filled by the governor and approved by a majority vote in both houses of the state legislature. If a vacancy occurs while the legislature is not in session, the governor may appoint a replacement to serve until the sixth Wednesday of the next legislative session.^[7]

Duties

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority is responsible for regulating the rates and services of the state's investor owned electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunication companies and is the franchising authority for the state’s cable television companies.^[8]

Click here to view a larger-scale image of the Connecticut PURA Organizational Chart as of June 2012.

Divisions

Division of Consumer Counsel
Division of Adjudication

State budget

The budget for the Department of Public Utility Control in the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year was $25,314,215.^[9]

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

In 2012, the Connecticut public utilities commissioners were paid an estimated $137,686. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.

Their salary is determined by law.

Recent news

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