THE House of Representatives on Wednesday confirmed the nominations to the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission of former Commonwealth Utilities Corp. legal counsel James Sirok and retired educator Dr. John “Jack” A. Angello.
Seventeen House members voted yes to Sirok’s confirmation while acting House Floor Leader Ralph N. Yumul voted “present.” For Angello’s confirmation, all 18 members present voted yes.
House Floor Leader Edwin Propst and Rep. Malcolm Omar were excused.
The nominations of Sirok and Angello also require the Senate’s approval.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios nominated Sirok in April, and Angello in May.
During the public comment section of the House session, Special Assistant for Administration Oscar M. Babauta relayed the administration’s gratitude to the House for considering the nominations of Sirok and Angello.
He said the administration was especially grateful to the chair of the House Committee on Judiciary & Governmental Operations, Marissa Flores for moving forward her committee report endorsing the confirmation of the nominees.
Babauta said the CPUC has been idle for quite some time due to a lack of members. Meanwhile, he added, “the people are hurting [because of] utility issues.”
He urged House members to confirm Sirok and Angello “so our citizens can…gain some relief [from the CPUC] in the near future.”
The CPUC is the regulatory agency of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
Public Law No. 15-40 states: “The Commission shall be composed of five members…[who] shall be of good ethical standing in their field of expertise and demonstrate experience in business regulation, in a business regulated by the Commission, or in accounting, law, or engineering. The Governor shall seek to appoint members with managerial or engineering experience in one of the fields of power engineering, water treatment, wastewater management, telecommunications, cable television services, and accounting.”
