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New People's Counsel will "aggressively"
represent utility customers to the Maryland Public Service
Commission
BY JAMIE WELLINGTON
Capital News Service
Many Maryland electric customers
are still steaming about the delayed response to power outages
during storms in August and September, but now they have a
new lawyer to speak for them.
October 1 marked the first day of Patricia A. Smith's tenure
as People's Counsel for Maryland. The former Johns Hopkins
University assistant professor of public safety leadership
was nominated by Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
"I think she is an excellent choice for this job," Maryland
Public Service Commissioner Gail McDonald said. "She has excellent
education credentials."
Smith is an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore
School of Law and has served as chief counsel for the Baltimore
Police Department, chief attorney for the Baltimore branch
of Legal Aid Bureau Inc. and as a Maryland administrative
law judge.
Almost immediately, Smith will be in the thick of the controversy
surrounding the storm-related power outages. Hund-reds of
thousands of utility customers were left without electricity
for days after September's Hurricane Isabel and thunderstorms
in August. Residents are looking for answers about the delay.
Smith will represent these ratepayers before the Maryland
Public Service Commission, which is scheduled to review utility
performance during the storms.
Smith said she is looking forward to her new challenge.
"I am very excited," she said.
Under Smith's leadership, the Office of People's Counsel
will "aggressively review" utility reports on its own and
work closely with the Public Service Commis-sion to help determine
what changes should be made, "keeping in mind as well that
nature can be humbling," Smith said.
Smith replaces Michael J. Travieso, who stepped down in August
at Ehrlich's request, said the Office of People's Counsel.
Pepco had a good relationship with Travieso, Pepco spokesman
Robert Dobkin said. The company maintains its relationship
with the Office of People's Counsel, he said, which represents
Pepco's Maryland customers.
The governor selected Smith as People's Counsel because of
her legal prowess and her experience in handling citizen grievances,
said Henry Fawell, Ehrlich's press secretary. The utility
issue is important, but it is only one part of the job. She
satisfies the "long-term requirements of this job," Fawell
said.
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