Senate Grills Governor’s PUCO Appointee

This week the Senate Public Utilities Committee held a hearing to consider Governor Kasich’s recent appointment to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), M. Howard Petricoff.

Members of the Senate peppered Mr. Petricoff with questions about possible conflicts of interest.

Mr. Petricoff, a respected utility lawyer who recently retired from the Vorys law firm, adeptly handled the questions but the Senate Committee Chair did not call for a confirmation vote.

Committee Chairman Senator Bill Seitz told the media that Senate confirmation would likely occur sometime this summer.

The OMA wrote to Senate President Faber in support of Mr. Petricoff’s appointment.  Some utilities are advocating against Petricoff’s appointment since he has represented competitive electricity suppliers.