New PUC Commissioner Rules: His Pension Not A Conflict of Interest

Newly appointed Public Utilities Commissioner Michael Harrington says having a pension from Northeast Utilities is not a good enough reason to disqualify him from hearing a case involving the utility and so he wont. Harrington made the statement in an order he signed Tuesday dismissing a motion arguing that he has an unacceptable conflict of interest. The order was also signed by Amy Ignatius, the chairman of the Public Utilities Commission. The disqualification motion came from a Dalton couple, Jim and Sandy Dannis, and the Conservation Law Foundation. Their concerns were endorsed by the Office of Consumer Advocate, which represents consumer interests before the PUC. The Dannis and CLF cited RSA 363:5 which says: No person who owns stock in, or is employed by or otherwise pecuniarily interested in any public utility in this state, or any affiliate thereof, shall be appointed upon said commission . Harrington worked for Northeast Utilities for about two decades and is eligible for a