PUC names new staff counsel

The move by Wellinghoff, replacing Kelly Jackson who retired, means he'll drop his involvement in efforts to create a nonprofit cooperative to deliver electric power in Nevada.

Wellinghoff and Citizen Alert made a proposal to buy Nevada Power's power distribution system 3 1/2 years ago. Since then, the effort has shifted to aggregating smaller power customers' buying power, which has attracted support from people in northern Nevada as well, he said.

Wellinghoff served as consumer advocate from 1981 to 1988. He has been working as an energy consultant, regulatory attorney and as president of Efficient Energy Systems Inc., which advises utilities and major power users.

The regulatory operations staff is charged with providing the three-member PUC with an independent recommendation in utility rate cases and other matters from the perspective of the general public.

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