Colorado PUC Commissioner Carl Miller retires

Gov. Bill Ritter today announced the retirement of Colorado Public Utilities Commissioner Carl Miller, effective Jan. 1. Miller, 69, has served on the Commission since July 1, 2004, and his term would have ended in January 2009.

 

"On behalf of the people of Colorado, I commend Commissioner Miller for his dedication and commitment to serving the public in a number of capacities for more than 30 years," Gov. Ritter said. "He fulfilled his responsibilities on the PUC with the utmost professionalism and he will be missed. I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."

 

Gov. Ritter said he expects to appoint Miller's replacement soon, as well as a replacement for Commissioner Polly Page, whose term on the PUC ends in January. The chairman of the Commission is Ron Binz, who was appointed by Gov. Ritter earlier this year.

 

"It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve in your administration, and former Gov. Bill Owens' administration," Miller wrote in a letter to Gov. Ritter. "I am grateful and will forever cherish the opportunities I have had to serve the citizens of Colorado.  I relish my job, but at age 69, it is time to move on and enjoy some leisure activities." Those leisure activities will be shared with Mary Ann, his wife of 43 years, his two daughters and four grandchildren.

 

Miller is a third-generation Leadville native who served in the U.S. Army (1958-1960) in Germany and worked in underground mining for 27 years. Miller was elected to serve in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1996-2004, as a Lake County Commissioner from 1977-1989, and as chairman and member of the Region 13 Council of Governments from 1981-1989. 

 

The PUC, a division of the Department of Regulatory Agencies, is a constitutionally recognized commission. It has economic and quality-of-service regulatory authority over intrastate telecommunication services; and investor-owned electric, gas and water utilities; as well as partial regulatory control over municipal utilities and electric associations.

 

The PUC also regulates railroad and motor carrier utilities. Under its jurisdiction are common and contract motor carriers; transportation operating authorities; and carriers providing intrastate and interstate transportation services. Finally, the PUC has jurisdiction over railroad corporations and public railroad-highway grade crossings.