FOR RELEASE:
IMMEDIATE, Friday
January 24, 2003
GOVERNOR PATAKI APPOINTS WILLIAM M. FLYNN TO CHAIR
PSC
Governor George E. Pataki today appointed William M. Flynn of Glenmont
to serve as Chair of the New York State Public Service Commission,
where he will lead the agency in its ongoing efforts to lower energy
costs, promote greater competition among utilities and phone companies,
and maintain the reliability of the state's power grid.
Mr. Flynn, who currently serves as president of the New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will, pending
Senate confirmation, succeed Maureen O. Helmer as chair. Chairman
Helmer has resigned from the Commission effective January 31, 2003.
"Over the past eight years, our State has led the nation in
the effort to foster competition among utilities while exploring new
ways to conserve resources and meet our energy needs," Governor
Pataki said. "Chairman Helmer has been instrumental in our efforts
to save New Yorkers money by encouraging more efficient and effective
service delivery.
Through his work at NYSERDA, Bill Flynn has played an important role
in those efforts and, as PSC Chairman, I'm confident he will continue
to be an effective part of our team as we work to meet the challenges
ahead."
Since joining NYSERDA in 1998, Mr. Flynn has held the positions
of Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary to the Board. In November
of 2000, NYSERDA's Board of Directors appointed Mr. Flynn as President.
In that time, NYSERDA's total annual operating budget grew from roughly
$100 million to more than $210 million, requiring hands-on and focused
leadership to ensure the organization could grow rapidly while still
effectively administering the increased funding and responsibilities.
NYSERDA's primary responsibility is administering the New York Energy
Smart program on behalf of the Public Service Commission. This program
was established in 1998 by the PSC with an annual funding level of
roughly $78 million. In January of 2001, the PSC nearly doubled funding
for these programs to roughly $150 million a year. NYSERDA invests
these funds into programs that improve the efficiency of the state's
energy consumers, develop renewable energy resources, and reduce peak
demand for electricity to maintain the reliability of the electric
power grid. The partnership
between NYSERDA and the PSC provides Mr. Flynn with a working knowledge
of
the PSC, its priorities and responsibilities, and its staff.
Mr. Flynn's leadership was instrument to accommodating the rapid
growth NYSERDA experienced since 1998. In his time at NYSERDA, the
staffing level increased by more than 80% in order to effectively
administer the increased funds and responsibilities assigned by the
PSC.
Mr. Flynn is credited with enabling the organization to grow smoothly
in staffing as well as making NYSERDA more accessible throughout the
State by opening regional offices in New York City and Buffalo.
Mr. Flynn holds a bachelor's degree from LeMoyne College, and a
law degree from the University of Dayton Law School.
From 1995 through 1998, he served as First Deputy Attorney General,
Chief of Staff and Special Counsel to New York State Attorney General
Dennis C. Vacco. He worked in the United States Attorney's Office
for the Western District of New York from 1990 to 1994 as an Assistant
US Attorney and Executive Assistant to the U.S. Attorney. Mr. Flynn
was also an anti-drug coordinator and executive assistant for U.S.
Congressman Bill Paxon from 1989 to 1990 and served as an associate
in the Erie County District Attorney's Office from 1987 to 1989. Mr.
Flynn currently resides in Glenmont with his wife Mary and their two
sons.
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