Press Release

PUC Announces Appointments to Its Consumer Advisory Council

Published on 6/13/2013

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

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced appointments to its Consumer Advisory Council (CAC), which provides input to Commissioners on utility- and consumer-related issues.

The Commission appointed the following CAC members to two-year terms from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2015:  Lillian Carpenter; Robert A. Christianson; Harry S. Geller; Timothy B. Hennessey; Renardo Hicks; Chad Quinn; Dr. Tina M. Serafini; Lee Tolbert; and Joseph E. Toner III.  The Commission also ratified the following appointments of other state officials:  Michael Bannon; Ralph G. Douglass; George J. Silvestri Jr.; William J. Sterner; and Javier R. Toro.

The following appointments were made by state officials and ratified by the Commission:

• Michael Bannon, of Doylestown, Bucks County, Director/Chief Sealer for the Bucks County Department of Consumer Protections/Weights and Measures Department, was reappointed by Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley;
• Ralph G. Douglass, of Bensalem, Bucks County, was appointed by Sen. Robert M. Tomlinson (R-Bucks), the Majority Chairman of the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.  Douglass is President of PECA Inc., an electronics design and manufacturing firm.  He also serves as President of the Bensalem Township School Board; President of the Just for Kids Education Foundation; Chairperson of the Bensalem Township Cable/Telecommunications Advisory Board; and co-founder and board member of the Bensalem Non-Public School Channel Corp.
• George J. Silvestri Jr., of Souderton, Montgomery County, was reappointed by Rep. Robert W. Godshall (R-Montgomery), the Majority Chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee.  Silvestri is an author and a retired engineer in the Power Generation Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corp. 
• William J. Sterner, of Charleroi, Washington County, was appointed by Rep. Peter J. Daley (D-Washington), the Minority Chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee. Sterner is a retired Allegheny Power lineman, and former Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), System Local 102, President, and Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Executive Council member.  He currently is a national UWUA Region II representative, retiring in August.  He also is the Washington County Democratic Committee representative of Twilight Borough and Vice-President of Twilight Borough Council.
• Javier R. Toro, of Fountain Hill,  Lehigh County, was appointed by Sen. Lisa M. Boscola (D-Lehigh), the Minority Chair of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.  He is a Customer Care Supervisor for the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, and is also responsible for weatherization.

The Commission appointed Chad Quinn, of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.  He serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Dollar Energy Fund Inc., Pittsburgh, which works with utility companies to design and administer programs to help low-income utility customers.

The Commission also reappointed the following Council members today:

• Lillian Carpenter, a retired educator from Pittsburgh, is a former member of the Pittsburgh Board of Education, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Homeless Children’s Education Fund. 
• Robert A. Christianson is a retired PUC Chief Administrative Law Judge and is currently the Vice Chairman of the CAC.  
• Harry S. Geller is the Director of the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP).
• Timothy B. Hennessey is a second-year master’s in public education student at the University of Pennsylvania, a student at Wharton Business School, and a former Communications Director for state Rep. Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery).  He is currently the Chairman of the CAC. 
• Renardo (Rick) Hicks is a shareholder of the law firm R.L. Hicks & Associates.
• Dr. Tina M. Serafini is a professor and curriculum designer/consultant for Instructional Associates LLC, and a resident of Clearfield.
• Lee Tolbert is President of the West Philadelphia Coalition of Neighborhoods.
• Joseph E. Toner III is Chairman of the Uwchlan Township Board of Supervisors and President of the Chester County Association of Township Officials.

The Consumer Advisory Council advises the PUC Commissioners on matters related to the protection of consumer interests under the jurisdiction of the PUC.  Council meetings are held bimonthly and are open to the public.

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.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” PAPowerSwitch on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

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Contact:

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  717-787-5722