Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Vice-Chairman John W. "Jack" Betkoski, III today assumed the presidency of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. As NARUC President, Betkoski will oversee the national organization that represents public utility commissions regulating utilities that provide essential services such as energy, telecommunications, power, water, and transportation.

Betkoski succeeds Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner Robert Powelson who was recently sworn in as a commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

A Democrat from Beacon Falls, Betkoski has served on Connecticut’s utility regulatory authority since 1997 when he was named a Commissioner of the Department of Public Utility Control. He was elected Vice Chairman of that body in 2007. When PURA was established as the state’s new regulatory authority in 2011, Betkoski was appointed to serve by Governor Dannel P. Malloy and elected as Vice Chairman of the new authority. Governor Malloy reappointed Betkoski to a four-year term that began in 2015.

Betkoski has served on NARUC's Executive Committee since 2012 and is currently Chairman of the Connecticut Water Planning Council and a member of the American Water Works Association Research Foundation’s Public Council on Drinking Water Research. He previously served as a member of the EPA National Drinking Water Advisory Council's Water Security Working Group.

Betkoski is a past President of the New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners. He is also past Chairman of the Board of Directors for Griffin Hospital in Derby and Past Chairman of the Board of Director for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter. He is on the board of Waterbury Youth Services and VARCA, Inc. of Derby, a private non-profit agency that provides work opportunities to individuals with special needs. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of The Salvation Army of Waterbury.

A lifelong resident of Beacon Falls, Betkoski served as a member of the Connecticut General Assembly from 1987 to 1997, representing the 105th District (Ansonia, Beacon Falls, and Seymour) as a state representative. He was co-chairman of the legislature’s Commerce Committee from 1993 to 1997.

Betkoski was the Waterbury Salvation Army’s Director of Human Services from 1989-1997, and held various administrative positions in human services agencies from 1974-1989. He served on Beacon Falls’ Board of Selectmen from 1981-1987 and Board of Finance from 1979-1981. He presently serves as Chairman of the Beacon Falls Economic Development Commission.

PURA Chairman Katie Dykes stated "I cannot think of a better person to represent Connecticut and utility commissions across the country than my friend and colleague, Jack Betkoski. His leadership skills and years of regulatory experience will strengthen NARUC and help advance the U.S. energy agenda."

PURA Commissioner Michael Caron stated that “Jack has been a wonderful colleague here at PURA. He has been an anchor for the agency through its merger with DEEP and has been a great resource and mentor for me in my five years here. I am confident he will have as successful a tenure as NARUC President as he has had serving the people of Connecticut these many years.”