Lamont nominates David Arconti as PURA Commissioner

Earlier today, Gov. Ned Lamont announced his nomination of David Arconti Jr. to serve as commissioner of the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). Lamont also announced that longtime Vice Chairman John Betkoski III would be retiring at the end of the year.

“I am truly honored to have this opportunity to serve as a commissioner at PURA,” said Arconti. “There’s a lot of exciting work happening here, and I can’t wait to contribute to innovative and sustainable energy solutions for Connecticut.”

The announcements come at an uncertain time for PURA, as the Governor has been openly questioning whether or not to expand the quasi-governmental agency from three seats to five amid a rift that reportedly developed between Chairman Melissa Gillette, Betkoski, and Commissioner Michael Caron. The agency, which is in charge of setting utility providers’ rates and interpreting laws related to utilities, has received applause and criticism from various state officials for the increasingly hardline stance it has taken against rate hikes in recent years.

Arconti currently serves as the vice president of state government relations for United Illuminating , one of the state’s largest electric utilities. In this role, which Arconti has held since Sept. 2023, he has worked with state officials and legislators on the development of policy regarding the utility’s operations in the state. Prior to his job at United Illuminating, Arconti worked as the director of community engagement for Fuel Cell Energy, where he worked with state and local officials to develop strategies for delivering affordable renewable energy to Connecticut municipalities.

Arconti also has legislative experience, having served five consecutive terms as Danbury’s Democratic representative from 2013 to 2022. He was assigned to the Committee on Energy and Technology in 2017 and served as Committee Chair from 2019-2022. He was instrumental in the passage of the Take Back Our Grid Act in 2020, which introduced performance-based incentives and penalties to the utility rate-setting process.

“I’ve known David Arconti for several years, and during this time he’s been deeply interested in energy policy, particularly when it comes to matters concerning the promotion of clean energy and the enactment of policies that will reduce energy costs for consumers,” said Lamont. “He is going to bring a fresh perspective to PURA, and I know that from his experience he will be able to work with lawmakers and utilities to develop strategies that advance our goals of bringing cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable power to consumers.”

Betkoski, who has served on PURA since it formed in 2011, and served on its predecessor, the Department of Public Utility Control since 1997, said his time in utility regulation has been an “honor and a privilege.”

“Arconti will be a fine addition to the Authority,” said Betkoski. “I have always found him to be genuine, eager, and knowledgeable about the issues we deal with here at PURA.”

Arconti will begin serving at PURA in an interim capacity on Aug. 5, 2024. The Governor’s Office will then forward his nomination to the General Assembly at the start of next year’s legislative session.

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