Newsroom Archive
New PSC Executive Director Bill O’Brien
Bill O’Brien Named Executive Director of the Public Service Commission
For Immediate Release
Monday, 24 January 2011
Christopher Portante
(302) 739-4111
(DOVER, DE) – Public Service Commission Chair Arnetta McRae announced that Bill O’Brien has been named to serve as the new Executive Director of the Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC). Bill O’Brien is replacing the former Executive Director Bruce Burcat who vacated the position in May 2010.
Before assuming his new role as PSC director today, O’Brien worked in Maryland as the lead regulatory counsel for Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI), the parent company to Delmarva Power & Light Company and other electric utilities. Prior to joining PHI, he worked for the State of Delaware for 14 years as a hearing officer and Deputy Attorney General. From 2001-2007, he served as a Senior Hearing Examiner with the PSC.
“We are very glad to have Bill back with us,” said Commission Chair McRae. “He has the experience we need to tackle the myriad issues presently before the Commission.”
Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock said of O’Brien’s appointment that “in addition to his years of experience in utility regulation, he also brings to the position a legal background and an understanding of all sides of the very complex issues with which the PSC deals. The PSC’s work is vital to Delawareans and the Delaware economy and will be playing an increasingly critical role as the Markell administration works to promote energy conservation and expand the use of renewable energy sources.”
O’Brien received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1985 and his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1989. He is a member of the Bar in Delaware, Maryland and the District of Columbia and is a resident of Camden, Delaware.
