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The public interest
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 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 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 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. 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. |