Maryland Breaking News

(August 14) Just when the rate caps are close to coming off, Michael J. Travieso, the state's leading advocate for residential utility customers for nearly a decade, was dismissed from his position at the request of the governor, the Office of People's Counsel confirmed.   August 6 was his last day at work.

Politicians and consumer advocates called the dismissal a huge loss for consumers and touted the work of Travieso, a Democratic appointee.

"He was just a great advocate for the people. He was superb," said state Sen. Brian E. Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat and chairman of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. "He was thoroughly versed in all the regulatory arcana of telephones and utilities. Travieso was not just an advocate for consumers -- he was good at it."

Gigi Kellett, a public-interest advocate for the Maryland Public Interest Research Group, has worked with Travieso on several issues to protect consumers in the state. "It is a huge loss to see someone like Mike leaving this position when he brings to the table so much experience and knowledge about these issues," she said. "We do hope that the governor appoints someone who will continue Mike's tradition of standing up for Maryland's ratepayers."

The change comes as Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., the first Republican governor in Maryland in 36 years, continues to leave his thumbprint on a variety of state agencies, replacing scores of Democratic appointees with Republicans. In some areas, including the environment and insurance regulation, Ehrlich has pledged that business interests would receive a more favorable hearing than they have under previous liberal-leaning administrations.

Source: The Baltimore Sun