PRC commissioner recuses himself from merger subject

Jan. 27—Public Regulation Fee appointee Patrick O’Connell on Friday recused himself from any involvement within the matter of the proposed merger of Connecticut-based vitality firm Avangrid with Public Service Firm of New Mexico.

O’Connell confronted calls to recuse himself from the case after being appointed to the fee in December 2022, having given sworn testimony in help of stipulations for the merger as a coverage analyst for Western Useful resource Advocates.

He additionally labored in numerous roles for PNM from 1999 to 2019, in response to his résumé.

O’Connell couldn’t be reached Friday for remark.

Mariel Nanasi, government director of the advocacy group New Power Economic system — which intervenes in lots of fee instances involving PNM — expressed help of O’Connell’s recusal.

“Commissioner O’Connell did the best factor to recuse himself within the PNM/Avangrid merger case as a result of the regulation is obvious that when there’s an precise battle of curiosity a choose or Commissioner should recuse,” Nanasi wrote in an electronic mail.

The merger was denied by the earlier fee, which was an elected physique till this 12 months. The matter now’s earlier than the state Supreme Court docket.