The public interest

June 25, 2003

The firing of William Steinhurst from the Department of Public Service raises troubling questions, though it is premature to reach any alarmist conclusions.

Steinhurst was planning director for the department for 17 years, meaning he was a strong witness on behalf of the public on a variety of issues related to electric power and telecommunications. That means that over the years, Steinhurst had a hand in cases in which the Public Service Board came down hard on Vermont ’s electric utilities.

David O’Brien, the new public service commissioner, asked Steinhurst to step down from his position because of “differences in philosophy and an overall desire for new thinking.”

New thinking is not a bad thing. It sometimes happens when a new administration takes over that entrenched longtime officials who are used to doing things their way do not fit in well with the new regime. Whatever new thinking O’Brien intends to bring to his department, Steinhurst’s approach may have been incompatible.

More troubling is the possibility that O’Brien let Steinhurst go because of Steinhurst’s effectiveness. O’Brien’s close ties with the electric utilities raise the possibility that his new thinking involves an inclination to go easy on the utilities in rate cases. In fact, securing lower electric rates ought to be one of O’Brien’s high priorities, not just for the benefit of ratepayers, but for the benefit of the economy as a whole. One of the major burdens for business in Vermont is the high cost of electricity.

Our system of overseeing public utilities requires strong advocacy on behalf of the public in utility matters. Just as justice in the courts requires able prosecution, matched by able defense, economic justice with regard to utility issues requires that the power of business be matched by aggressive, knowledgeable and capable defense on the part of the public. That’s what O’Brien’s department is supposed to be doing.

The loss of Steinhurst suggests another potential problem. O’Brien’s lack of experience with utility issues prompted skeptical questions from legislators during O’Brien’s confirmation. Steinhurst was one of the most capable and experienced officials in O’Brien’s department. To lose him robs the department of experience it could surely use.

Over 17 years of dishing out strong medicine to Vermont ’s utilities, Steinhurst may have acquired some enemies within Vermont ’s power companies. It would be disturbing if O’Brien were taking his cues from the utilities over whom he is supposed to be serving as watchdog.

The meaning of Steinhurst’s firing will become evident in the policies that O’Brien pursues. The department had already established that it intended to take a skeptical view of the proposal to boost power output at Vermont Yankee. It would be too bad if Steinhurst’s departure meant O’Brien wanted to ease off his watchdog role with regard to Vermont Yankee.

Vermont has made strides in encouraging energy conservation. One hopes that the department would continue to see conservation as a high priority. The department should also keep an open mind, as Gov. James Douglas says he has, with regard to the purchase of a number of hydroelectric dams on the Connecticut River .

Steinhurst’s departure may be nothing more than the inevitable toll of change. The important thing is that the department he is leaving remains determined to defend the public’s interest.