Commissioner Mark Ferron on Wednesday resigned from the California Public Utilities Commission, revealing he is battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
In his resignation statement, Ferron said he has undergone extensive treatments since his diagnosis in January 2012. However, in the last few weeks, he learned his disease had "moved to a new stage." He said he decided to resign after consulting with the governor’s office, CPUC President Michael Peevey, his medical advisors and his family.
His departure leaves the current commission with four members who will grapple with many complex dockets, including net metering, the San Bruno gas pipeline explosion, electric rates, and Lifeline reform.
Ferron’s tenure on the commission was short. Gov. Jerry Brown appointment the Mill Valley resident to the post in March 2011 to fill the seat vacated by Commissioner Nancy Ryan. Ferron’s term was slated to expire at the end of 2014, and the Democrat leaves the post 11 and a half months early.
PUC commissioners serve staggered terms of six years, and they are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate within a year of taking office. The commission is charged with regulating privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies. It also authorizes video franchises.
"I speak on behalf of my fellow commissioners when I say that Mark has been an invaluable asset to us, and has brought a real-world perspective to our work," Peevey said in a statement. "He is a man of tremendous inner strength. We wish him the best and look forward to the day when we can raise our glasses in a toast to his recovery."
