Press Release

PUC Announces Appointments to Its Consumer Advisory Council

Published on 6/11/2015

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications Transportation and Safety

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced appointments to its Consumer Advisory Council (CAC), which provides input to the PUC on issues important to utility customers.

The Commission today appointed the following CAC members to two-year terms from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2017:  Lillian Carpenter; Patrick M. Cicero; Timothy B. Hennessey; Renardo L. (Rick) Hicks; Chad Quinn; Dr. Tina M. Serafini; Lee Tolbert; and Joseph E. Toner III. The Commission also ratified the following appointments of other state officials: Troy T. Geanopulos; Ralph G. Douglass; George J. Silvestri Jr.; William J. Sterner; and Javier R. Toro.

The following appointments were made by state officials and ratified today by the Commission:

• Troy T. Geanopulos, founder of several energy efficiency companies over the past 20 years, is currently the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Efficiency Network (TEN), a tech-enabled provider of building efficiency services headquartered in Pittsburgh. Geanopulos was appointed by Lt. Gov. Mike Stack. 
• Ralph G. Douglass, of Bensalem, Bucks County, was reappointed by Sen. Robert M. Tomlinson (R-Bucks), the Majority Chairman of the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. Douglass is semi-retired from service as President of PECA Inc., an electronics design and manufacturing firm. 
• George J. Silvestri Jr., of Souderton, Montgomery County, was reappointed by Rep. Robert W. Godshall (R-Montgomery), the Majority Chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee. Silvestri is an author and a retired engineer in the Power Generation Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corp.
• William J. Sterner, of Charleroi, Washington County, was reappointed by Rep. Peter J. Daley (D-Washington), the Minority Chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee. Sterner is a retired Allegheny Power lineman; former Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), System Local 102, President; and Vice-President of Twilight Borough Council.
• Javier R. Toro, of Fountain Hill, Lehigh County, was appointed by Sen. Lisa M. Boscola (D-Lehigh), the Minority Chair of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. He is a Customer Care Supervisor for the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, and also is responsible for weatherization.

The Commission today appointed Patrick M. Cicero of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County. Cicero is Co-Director of Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP) and will become Director of PULP in July, replacing Harry Geller, a former Chairman and currently Vice Chairman of the CAC. 

The Commission also reappointed the following Council members today:

• Lillian Carpenter, a retired educator from Pittsburgh, is a former member of the Pittsburgh Board of Education, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Homeless Children’s Education Fund.
• Timothy B. Hennessey is co-owner of Alliance Global, a business development company in Pottstown, Montgomery County, with a master’s degree from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently is the Chairman of the CAC.
• Renardo L. (Rick) Hicks is a shareholder of the law firm R.L. Hicks & Associates.
• Chad Quinn is Chief Executive Officer of Pittsburgh-based Dollar Energy Fund.
• Dr. Tina M. Serafini is a professor, curriculum designer/consultant, and trainer for T.M. Serafini & Associates LLC, and a resident of Clearfield. 
• Lee Tolbert is President of the West Philadelphia Coalition of Neighborhoods.
• Joseph E. Toner III is Chairman of the Uwchlan Township Board of Supervisors and President of the Chester County Association of Township Officials.

The Consumer Advisory Council advises the PUC Commissioners on matters related to the protection of consumer interests under the jurisdiction of the PUC. Council meetings are held bimonthly and are open to the public.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility. “Like” PAPowerSwitch on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

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Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  demccracken@pa.gov