Maine Public Utilities Commission Chairman Tom Welch said...

Maine Public Utilities Commission Chairman Tom Welch said Thursday that he has submitted a letter to Gov. Paul LePage formally declaring his intention to retire from the PUC Dec. 31. Welch’s term was set to run until March 2017, but he said he is retiring early for personal reasons. His current term began in 2011; He had served as chairman from 1993-2005. Commissioner David Littell’s term is set to expire in March, meaning the winner of Maine’s gubernatorial election in November will need to decide on appointments for two of the PUC’s three seats within months of starting his term in office. LePage, a Republican, is running for a second term against Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud and Independent lawyer Eliot Cutler.