July 1, 2022
Stephanie Salmons
Pacific Business News: Leo Asuncion Jr. named chairman of state Public Utilities Commission
Gov. David Ige has appointed Leodoloff “Leo” Asuncion, Jr. chairman of the state Public Utilities Commission, or PUC.
Asuncion has served on the PUC since April 2019.
Former PUC chairman James “Jay” Griffin announced in January he would step down at the end of his term, which expired June 30.
“Hawaii has been leading by example as the state accelerates its transformation to a clean energy economy,” Ige said in a statement. “Under Leo’s leadership, the Public Utilities Commission will continue this work, which will directly benefit the environment and create new businesses and jobs that are in balance with our natural resources while protecting the interests of Hawaii’s working families.”
Prior to joining the PUC, Asuncion was a planning program administrator at the Office of Planning, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, where he also served as director from 2013 to 2018. Asuncion also was planning program manager of the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management program from 2011-2013.
“I am honored that Gov. Ige selected me as chairperson of the PUC,” Asuncion said in a statement. “I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners, our regulated utilities, public and governmental stakeholders, and our dedicated PUC staff to continue the important work of the commission.”
He has more than 30 years of experience in planning, policy analysis, and management throughout Hawaii and the Pacific region, in both the public and private sectors, having worked for Hawaiian Electric Co., Inc., SSFM International, Inc., the Hawaii State Judiciary, and served on the state Land Use Commission, according to officials.
Asuncion has a master’s degree in business administration from Hawaii Pacific University, a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
His current term on the PUC began on July 1, 2020, and ends on June 30, 2026.
Pacific Business News, July 1, 2022 : https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2022/07/01/asuncion-named-puc-chairman.html