Press Release

PUC Elects Commissioner James H. Cawley as Vice Chairman

Published on 6/23/2005

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications Transportation and Safety

HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced the Commissioners’ selection of James H. Cawley as Vice Chairman, replacing Robert K. Bloom, who has retired. Vice Chairman Cawley rejoined the Commission on June 9.

"I am honored that my fellow Commissioners elected me to this important post," Vice Chairman Cawley said. "I’m proud to be back at the Commission and to be part of what I believe will be a very strong, very experienced, very effective Commission."

Vice Chairman Cawley, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, was nominated as a Commissioner by Gov. Edward G. Rendell on April 25 and confirmed by the Senate on June 7. He will serve a full term that ends in 2010.

In 1970, Cawley became one of the seven original law clerks serving the judges of the newly created Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. He was later appointed Majority Counsel to the Pennsylvania Senate Consumer Affairs Committee where he drafted several major amendments to Pennsylvania’s public utility laws and assisted with codification of those laws. In 1977, he was appointed Chief Counsel to the Senate Majority Floor Leader.

After serving as a Public Utility Commissioner from November 1979 until September 1985, he returned to the private practice of law. He has served as Adjunct Professor of Administrative Law at Widener University School of Law. He is a frequent faculty member of Pennsylvania Bar Institute courses on appellate advocacy, public utility law and ethics.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as responsible stewards of competition. 

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Contact:

• Tom Charles
  Director of Communications
  717-787-9504
  thcharles@pa.gov