Questions Raised About Abercrombie Handling of PUC Appointment

Civil Beat

UPDATED 2/9/11 11:19 a.m.

UPDATED Gov. Neil Abercrombie will submit Public Utilities Commissioner commissioner Michael Champley's name to the Senate for confirmation early next week, Donalyn Dela Cruz, a spokeswoman for the governor, told Civil Beat Thursday.

The governor's office decided to publicly announce that he would move ahead with Champley's appointment a day after Civil Beat published its story (below) and a couple days after news reports had said he was considering finding someone else for the position.

"Just wanted to clarify things," Dela Cruz said in a voicemail.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie may cut short the term of his latest appointment to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, raising serious questions about the quasi-judicial body’s ability to act independently of gubernatorial influence.

Uncertainty about the fate of Michael Champley is also angering key players in the energy sector who strongy support him, setting the governor up for a potential backlash.

The PUC regulates hundreds of companies, including Hawaiian Electric Co., telecommunications carriers and transportation companies. The PUC is increasingly guiding state energy policy through rulings on renewable energy contracts and electric rate cases.

Abercrombie nominated Champley, a respected veteran of the utility industry, to the position in August. He replaced a commissioner who resigned and whose term expires in April 2015.

But the commissioner may not get to carry out his full term.

Abercrombie has yet to submit Champley’s name to the Senate for confirmation and it’s unclear if he will do so. The governor’s spokeswoman, Donalyn Dela Cruz, said that a decision should be made by the end of the week.

She said the governor is waiting to see if Champley is "in line" with his energy policy but declined to elaborate further.

If Abercrombie decides not to submit Champley's name, the PUC commissioner would be out when the legislative session ends in May.

Champley told Civil Beat earlier this week that "I support the governor's energy plan and look forward to discussions with him and his team about serious energy issues." Beyond that, he wouldn't comment.

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