Word Document PDF Document |
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
_________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov
CPUC WELCOMES NEW COMMISSIONER
SAN FRANCISCO, January 27, 2010 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today welcomed Nancy E. Ryan, Ph.D, as its newest Commissioner after Governor Schwarzenegger announced her appointment.
Commissioner Ryan is an economist with expertise in energy markets, climate change policy, and the public health and ecological impacts of energy production. Since February 2009, she has served as the CPUC's Deputy Executive Director for Policy. She joined the CPUC in January 2006 as President Peevey's Chief Energy Advisor and served as his Chief of Staff from April 2007 to February 2009. While at the CPUC Commissioner Ryan has played a key role in developing policies in the areas of climate change, electricity market design, and renewable energy. In the course of these efforts she has helped to build and enhance the CPUC's working relationships with its sister energy agencies and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as the Legislature and Governor's office.
CPUC President Michael R. Peevey said, "I have worked with Nancy for a number of years and I am very pleased that she will now join myself and Commissioners Grueneich, Bohn, and Simon on the dais and contribute her sound judgment and vast knowledge of regulatory and environmental policy to our decision-making."
Said Commissioner Ryan, "I would like to thank Governor Schwarzenegger for this wonderful opportunity. I will work to continue to make California a leader in energy, communications, water, and transportation policies for the benefit of California and its consumers, environment, and economy."
Prior to joining the CPUC, Commissioner Ryan was Senior Economist and Deputy California Director at Environmental Defense Fund, where she led policy initiatives focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and power plants, curbing air pollution from diesel engines, and restoring rivers and watersheds. Prior to joining Environmental Defense in 2001, Commissioner Ryan worked as a consultant for a diverse set of clients in the energy field, including conservation groups, state government, electric utilities, and the Electric Power Research Institute. From 1996 to 2007, Commissioner Ryan also taught a graduate-level course on applied Cost Benefit Analysis at University of California, Berkeley's Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy.
Commissioner Ryan, 49, received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.A. in Economics from Yale. Ryan is a Democrat and resides in Berkeley with her partner Carrie Portis and their 2-year old daughter, Frances.
Commissioners are appointed to the CPUC for six-year terms at a salary of $128,109 per year. The appointment requires Senate confirmation within one year. Commissioner Ryan was appointed to fill the Commissioner seat vacated by former Commissioner Rachelle Chong. Her term expires at the end of 2014.
The CPUC regulates privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies, in addition to authorizing video franchises. Its five Governor-appointed Commissioners are dedicated to ensuring that consumers have safe, reliable utility service at reasonable rates, protecting against fraud, and promoting the health of California's economy.
For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
###