Governor Paul LePage has nominated Mark Vannoy, P.E., of Waldoboro, for the post of Commissioner of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC).
If confirmed by the Legislature, Vannoy would serve through March 31, 2013 to complete the term of Vendean Vafiades, who resigned from her position earlier this year.
Vannoy is currently employed as an Associate Vice President of Wright-Pierce in the Civil and Infrastructure Engineering Practice Group in Topsham. His experience includes management of a wide variety of projects, from industrial food and beverage plants to municipal utilities. He served on Active Duty in the United States Navy from 1993 to 1999 and remains a Commander in the Navy Reserve. An active member of his community, he has recently served as Chair of the Waldoboro Energy Committee.
Vannoy received his B.S. in Ocean Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and subsequently completed Navy Nuclear Power Training in Orlando, Florida. He earned a M.Eng. in Civil Engineering from Cornell University.
Vannoy will appear before the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology in the upcoming weeks. A date has not yet been scheduled.
The MPUC regulates electric, natural gas, telecommunications and water utilities to ensure that Maine consumers enjoy safe, adequate and reliable services at rates that are just and reasonable for both consumers and utilities. The Commission oversees emerging competitive markets for some of these services. The Commission also regulates water taxis and ferries in Casco Bay, and promotes safe digging through the Dig Safe underground utility damage prevention program.
