AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine Public Utilities Commission Chair Tom Welch is retiring early. Welch will leave his post in December, two years ahead of the end of his term.
Welch is leaving as the PUC confronts major issues, such as expanding natural gas in the state, modernizing the electric grid, and telephone regulation.
"I confess I do feel some twinges of guilt," Welch says, "sometimes some very large twinges, because I'm leaving some very important issues that we're still struggling with."
The departure of Welch, and the expiration of another commissioner's term in March, means whoever is elected governor in the upcoming election will have a significant impact on utility policy in the state.
