Former Commissioner Carl Wood to Head Board of TURN
The Utility Reform Network (TURN) is pleased to announce that Carl Wood has been elected President of TURN’s Board of Directors. Wood is a nationally recognized expert on consumer issues who brings a wealth of experience and commitment to TURN’s board. Wood, who started his career as an industrial electrician, is a former California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Commissioner and union official with the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), AFL-CIO. He has been active in struggles for political and social justice for most of his life.
“TURN’s mission of keeping essential services affordable and keeping California’s communities livable is a crucial one,” said Wood. “Despite our disastrous experience with electric deregulation, free market profiteers have the ear of our Governor and the sympathy of the CPUC. TURN is in the front line of the struggle to save consumers from the devastating consequences of deregulating utilities.”
As Commissioner, Wood is best known for his efforts to stabilize and re-regulate California’s electrical industry during and after the deregulation disaster, and for his authorship of the Telecommunications Consumer Bill of Rights, which was dismantled by the Schwarzenegger CPUC shortly after his term ended.
An expert on deregulation, Wood has testified before committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures of California, New Mexico, Michigan and Connecticut, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.
Commissioner Wood is currently the Director of Regulatory Affairs for the national UWUA. Since his term on the CPUC ended in December 2004 his volunteer activities have included service on the AARP California Executive Council and National Policy Council and his involvement with TURN. Wood, who has served on TURN’s board since 2005, replaces outgoing board President Rochelle Becker, a noted anti-nuclear activist who will continue to serve on the board after 8 years as President.
