CORRECTIVE REPRINT

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MUNDY, BRENNAN, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, BAKER, DiGIROLAMO, GEORGE, GODSHALL, HARHAI, JAMES, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, MILLARD, NEILSON, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PRESTON, READSHAW, SCHMOTZER, STABACK AND VITALI, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012   

A RESOLUTION

Honoring Irwin "Sonny" Popowsky for his 33 years of service in

the Office of Consumer Advocate.

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky joined Pennsylvania's Office of

Consumer Advocate in 1979 as an assistant consumer advocate; and

WHEREAS, In 1990, Mr. Popowsky was appointed Pennsylvania's

Consumer Advocate; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky was President of the National

Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates from 1996 to

1998; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky has served on numerous national and

State boards, such as the Board of Trustees of the North

American Electric Reliability Council, the Board of Directors of

the North American Energy Standards Board and the Keystone

Energy Board; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, Mr. Popowsky was appointed by Department of

Energy Secretary Steven Chu to the Department of Energy

Electricity Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky was selected to serve on the

Stakeholder Steering Committee of the Department of Energy-

sponsored Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative; and

WHEREAS, In 1988, Mr. Popowsky briefed and argued the

landmark United States Supreme Court case of Duquesne Light

Company v. Barasch, in which the court upheld the position of

the Office of Consumer Advocate that two Pennsylvania utilities

had no constitutional right to charge consumers for the costs of

four cancelled nuclear power plants; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky has a nationally recognized unique

understanding of public utility regulation, from the larger

picture to how the smallest issues can affect overall utility

regulation; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky has always considered his service to

Pennsylvania utility consumers as an honor and a privilege; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky possesses an uncanny ability to explain

the complexities of utility regulation for all utility consumers

to understand; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky has zealously and passionately

advocated for the rights and protections of utility consumers,

while always treating opposing opinions with respect and

adhering to the rules of civility; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky's diplomacy in the regulatory community

is unmatched; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky has always promoted a family atmosphere

within the Office of Consumer Advocate and encouraged the

thoughtful exchange of ideas; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky's kind and caring leadership and

tireless pursuit of the common good have inspired a new

generation of young attorneys to specialize in the practice of

public utility law; and

WHEREAS, This inspiration to other attorneys is no small feat

considering that certain utility law reading material could cure

the most insufferable case of insomnia; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Popowsky's presence and inspiration will be

deeply missed by colleagues, policymakers and the public at

large; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor Irwin

"Sonny" Popowsky for his 33 years of service in the Office of

Consumer Advocate.