Word Document PDF Document

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov

Commissioner Rachelle Chong Announces
Staff Changes

SAN FRANCISCO, December 20, 2007 - California Public Utilities Commission Commissioner Rachelle Chong today announced changes to her personal staff, effective January 1, 2008.

Robert Haga will assume the role of Commissioner Chong's new Chief of Staff, replacing Lynn Carew who announced her retirement from the CPUC after 28 years of service.

Joining Commissioner Chong's office at the beginning of 2008 is Joseph P. Como, who will serve as a Legal Advisor for energy, water, and transportation matters.

In May 2007, Jane Whang had joined Commissioner Chong's office as a Legal Advisor, with emphasis on telecommunications issues, replacing Dr. Timothy Sullivan, who became an advisor to Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon.

Andrew Campbell will continue to serve as Senior Energy Advisor to Commissioner Chong.

Mr. Como was an attorney in the CPUC's legal division prior to joining Commissioner Chong's staff. Previously, he worked for six years at the San Francisco City Attorney's Office on energy matters related to CPUC and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission jurisdictional matters; and prior to that with Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund. In his former career, Mr. Como worked for over 15 years as a civil engineer on various water, wastewater, and hazardous waste treatment projects in California and several other states. Mr. Como holds a Law Degree from Golden Gate University with an emphasis in environmental law, a Masters degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, and a Bachelors degree in Natural Resources Planning from Cornell University.

Ms. Whang, an attorney with the CPUC since 2006, has served as Commissioner Chong's Legal Advisor, with emphasis on telecommunications issues, since May 2007. From 1999 to 2006, Ms. Whang was an associate at the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP in San Francisco, and represented telecommunications clients before the CPUC and the FCC. Prior to that, she was an attorney-advisor at the FCC working on universal service issues, and a staff attorney at the Federal Elections Commission. Ms. Whang received her J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., and her B.A. degree in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley.

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

###

Top Of Page