(New Britain, CT – November 8, 2021) – Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) today announced that Commissioner Michael A. Caron has been elected 1st Vice President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

NARUC, a non-profit organization representing state public service commissioners who regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities, elected Caron 1st Vice President after he spent the last year serving as 2nd Vice President.

Caron currently serves the Association’s Committee on Telecommunications and Critical Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Education and Research, and previously served the Committees on Electricity and Gas.

PURA Vice Chairman and former NARUC President John W. "Jack" Betkoski III today nominated Caron as 1st Vice President at NARUC’s Annual Meeting in Louisville, Ky.

During his one-year term as 1st Vice President, Caron and other Executive Committee members will be responsible for the Association’s overall direction.

“It is a true honor being elected as NARUC’s 1st Vice President from my national commissioner colleagues,” Caron said. “It has been an exceptional experience working with Paul Kjellander of Idaho as this past year’s President and I am very excited to begin working with our newly elected President, Virginia Commissioner Judy Jagdmann, and North Dakota’s Commission Chair Julie Fedorchak as 2nd Vice President. I am also looking forward to working with Executive Director Greg White and our exceptional NARUC team.”

“I congratulate my good friend and colleague Michael Caron being elected 1st Vice President of NARUC,” said Betkoski. “In this complex world of utility regulation, Commissioner Caron will do an exemplary job representing the state of Connecticut and utility regulators throughout the U.S.”

“Commissioner Caron is well deserving of this role, and through his service Connecticut will continue to lead the way nationally on a variety of utility topics,” said PURA Chairman Marissa P. Gillett. “I look forward to supporting Commissioner Caron as he transitions into the role of 1st Vice President of NARUC, where his collaborative spirit and tremendous skillset will be a great addition to our national leadership team.”

Former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy nominated Caron to serve as one of PURA’s three commissioners in 2012 and his appointment was confirmed by the state's General Assembly in the 2013 session. 

As PURA commissioner, Caron has presided over utility rate cases, electric supplier abuses, and telecommunications dockets. He was also the Authority’s designee to the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC), which is now called AdvanceCT.

From 1991 to 2009, Caron served nine terms as a State Representative from the 44th District representing the towns of Canterbury, Killingly, Plainfield, and Sterling. He also served as an ex officio member of the State Bond Commission and as Assistant Minority Leader, among other legislative positions.

Caron also previously served as Director of Public Affairs – Global Sites for Pfizer Inc. and Associate Lobbyist for the lobbying and business development firm Camilliere, Cloud & Kennedy.

He was also President of the New England Conference of Public Utility Commissioners (NECPUC) in 2019 and is currently NECPUC’s Treasurer.

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About the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority:   

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is statutorily charged with regulating the rates and services of Connecticut's investor-owned electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunication companies and is the franchising authority for the state’s cable television companies. In the industries that are still wholly regulated, PURA balances the public’s right to safe, adequate and reliable utility service at reasonable rates with the provider’s right to a reasonable return on its investment. PURA also keeps watch over competitive utility services to promote equity among the competitors while customers reap the price and quality benefits of competition and are protected from unfair business practices. Visit PURA's website at ct.gov/pura.

About the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners:  

NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of state public utility commissions before the three branches of the federal government.

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