PUC Annual Report–Fiscal Year 2011-12 - Public Utilities Commission

Public Utilities Commission Annual Report 2011-12
State of Hawaii Page 14
Hermina Morita, Chair
Hermina Morita was appointed to the Public Utilities
Commission and named Chair of the Commission on
February 3, 2011 by Governor Neil Abercrombie for a term to
expire on June 30, 2014.
Upon her confirmation on March 14, 2011, Chair Morita
resigned from her position in the State of Hawaii House of
Representatives, where she served as a Legislator for fifteen
years, thirteen of which as the Chair of the House Energy &
Environmental Protection Committee. Prior to her experience
as a Legislator, Chair Morita worked as a business manager
in the retail, construction and visitor industries. She also
served on the Kauai Planning Commission and Kauai Police
Commission. She was born and raised on Lanai and currently resides on Kauai.
John E. Cole, Commissioner 23
John E. Cole was appointed to the Commission by
Governor Linda Lingle on April 24, 2006 for a term to expire on
June 30, 2012.
Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Cole served as
Executive Director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the
Hawaii State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
In May 2005, Commissioner Cole was appointed as a member
of the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee to advise the FCC
on consumer issues within the FCC’s jurisdiction and to
facilitate the participation of consumers in proceedings before
the FCC. He is also a member of the National Association of
Regulatory Utility Commissioners (“NARUC”) and serves on NARUC’s Committee on
Energy Resources and the Environment, and the Committee on Consumer Affairs. In
2010, Commissioner Cole accepted an invitation to participate in the State Energy
Efficiency Action Network working group on Customer Information and Behavior.
Commissioner Cole earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from UH-Manoa and a
law degree from Washington University School of Law.
23 Commissioner Lorraine Akiba was appointed to replace Commissioner Cole for
the term of July 1, 2012-June 30, 2018.