The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will go from being “awatchdog to a lapdog,” Commissioner John Hanger commented followingthe announcement the governor had chosen a staunch supporter ofPeco Energy, Chester, PA Mayor Aaron Wilson Jr. to replace Hanger.

“Gov. Ridge fired me because I am independent and because I haveled the charge to replace electric, telephone and gas monopolieswith genuine competition,” Hanger said. He blamed Peco Energy andBell Atlantic Corp. for leading the fight against his renominationwhen his PUC term expired April 1.

“Tom Ridge placed the politics of pleasing powerful interestsbefore the interests of ordinary Pennsylvanians who have noHarrisburg lobbyists and who cannot give Tom Ridge tens ofthousands of dollars to buy their way into Tom Ridge’s governor’sclub of high rollers,” Hanger said in a statement. The outgoingcommissioner had led the fight to overturn and restructure PecoEnergy’s settlement under the state’s new electric restructuringlaw.

“The PUC has been divided 3 to 2 between commissioners who arecommitted to genuine competition and commissioners who have votedin the key electric and telephone cases in a way that would delay,weaken or destroy both electric or telephone competition.” Thechairman and vice chairman are in the pro-monopoly camp, Hangersaid.

Wilson, 62, is a retired educator with no public utilityexperience. Contacted by GPI when his name first surfaced as apossible candidate two weeks ago, Wilson said no one had notifiedor talked to him about a possible appointment. (GPID May 18) Hesaid his only utility experience was dealing with utilities for theCity of Chester. “That’s mainly Peco Energy. They have served thecity well. They have a lot of property here.” Wilson was called into see the governor last Wednesday and his nomination was announcedFriday.

Hanger said he is challenging the governor’s action “in the hopethat enough attention will be paid to the Public Utility Commissionso that genuine electric competition will not be rolled back….”He tentatively has decided to continue to serve until his successoris confirmed by the state legislature.

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