Press Release

PUC Appoints New Director for the Office of Special Assistants

Published on 8/23/2018

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

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today appointed Kathryn G. Sophy as the PUC’s new Director for the Office of Special Assistants (OSA).  Sophy’s appointment is effective August 23, 2018.

“Kathe Sophy has a long and successful tenure at the PUC, serving as a trusted and reliable adviser to the Commissioners and staff,” noted PUC Chairman Gladys M. Brown. “We are pleased to have her move into this critical position and welcome Kathe to her new role.”

OSA is an advisory bureau, responsible for providing technical and legal advice to the Commission. Those activities include preparing final orders; reviewing decisions from the Office of Administrative Law Judge; reviewing petitions for rehearing, reconsideration, modification or clarification of Commission orders; and other related review and analysis.

Since 2009, Sophy has served as a Deputy Chief Counsel for the PUC’s Law Bureau, focusing on legal and policy matters related to water, wastewater and telecommunications – including legal guidance related to the PUC’s assumption of jurisdiction over the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority and representation of the PUC in a court challenge of action by the Federal Communications Commission. Prior to that, Sophy was Deputy Director – Legal, for OSA, and her experience in public utility law spans 30 years. 

Sophy received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and her law degree from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.  She resides in Harrisburg.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

# # #

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov