OCA Welcomes Chuck Underhill as the New Director of Rates and Markets Policy

Legendary utility and financial analyst Charles J. "Chuck" Underhill joined the staff of the Office of the Consumer Advocate on March 22 as the OCA's new Director of Rates and Markets Policy.  Lured out of retirement by the prospect of advocating on behalf of the state's residential utility customers, Chuck brings 43 years of relevant experience to his work, having previously served as a Market Analyst, Director of Rates and Integrated Resource Planning, Chief Financial Officer, and consultant.

"We are thrilled to have Chuck Underhill join the OCA team," said Consumer Advocate Don Kreis.  "He's a veteran utility executive with vast experience in the public power sector, where he learned to champion the interests of the customers his organizations were serving.  We can't wait to apply all of his analytical firepower to our work here."

A civil engineer by training, Chuck has managed wholesale power market activities, both before and after the implementation of ISO-NE and designed retail efficiency and electrification programs. He has prepared and filed testimony before the Vermont Public Service Board and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He has developed analytical tools and models for cost of service, cost allocation, rate design, forecasting, and power supply modeling. He has taught coursesin utility operations, rate design, and project management as well as making numerous presentations to peers at conferences of the American Public Power Association.

With Chuck Underhill's appointment, the Office of the Consumer Advocate is now fully staffed for the first time in more than a year and a half.  "Our formidable cohort of six dedicated professionals is the best team this office has ever assembled," said Consumer Advocate Kreis.  "Utilities, and anyone who has ever been tempted to use the regulatory process to squeeze free money out of our state's utility customers as they struggle to pay their ever-increasing bills, beware!"