Governor Janet Mills nominated Patrick Scully this week, a leading Maine energy and utilities expert who was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Bernstein Shur, to serve a six-year term on the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
Over his 36 years with Bernstein Shur, Scully was among Maine’s most knowledgeable attorneys in municipal, energy and utility regulations, with significant experience in the state’s burgeoning renewable energy sector, the issues and challenges facing Maine and its communities, and the important regulatory responsibilities of the PUC.
Scully, 64, joined Bernstein Shur in 1984, was named CEO of the firm in January 2014, and retired at the end of 2019. He has degrees from Dartmouth College in biology and environmental studies and earned his law degree from University of Maine School of Law. Scully lives in Naples with his wife, Tory Ryden.
Scully’s nomination is subject to review by the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology and final confirmation by the Maine State Senate. If confirmed, Scully will replace PUC member R. Bruce Williamson, whose term ended in March.
The Maine Public Utilities Commission regulates electric, natural gas, water and telecommunications utilities to ensure Maine consumers have safe, adequate and reliable services and rates that are just and reasonable for consumers and utilities.
The Commission oversees emerging competitive markets for some of these services. The PUC’s three full-time Commissioners serve staggered terms of 6 years and make all final Commission decisions by public vote or action of the majority.
This is Governor Mills’ second nomination to the PUC. In May 2019, she nominated Phil Bartlett, former Chair of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, to serve as Chair of the PUC.
