Deregulation Proponent to Leave PUC

G. Mitchell Wilk, a staunch proponent of telephone industry deregulation who was viewed by utility watchdog groups as a foe of consumers, said Wednesday that he will resign from the California Public Utilities Commission, effective Oct. 4.

The departure of Wilk, 44, enables Gov. Pete Wilson to make his third appointment to the five-member regulatory body since taking office last January. His two earlier appointments were Norman D. Shumway and Daniel W. Fessler.

In a statement, Wilk said he believed that it was time “for fresh challenges and (a) change of career direction.” Carl Danner, an adviser to Wilk at the PUC, said the commissioner plans to “explore his options.”

Utility watchdog groups greeted the announcement with elation.

“It’s good news for consumers,” said Audrie Krause, executive director of TURN (Toward Utility Rate Normalization) in San Francisco.

“We will look forward to Gov. Wilson’s injecting some new blood,” said Michael Shames, executive director of UCAN (Utility Consumers Action Network) in San Diego.

Franz Wisner, a spokesman for Wilson, said the governor has not yet chosen a successor. The new appointee would serve out the remaining 1 1/2 years of Wilk’s six-year term. Wilk, who informed the governor of his decision last week, has been a commissioner since December, 1986, and served as PUC president for two years. Before his appointment, he served on former Gov. George Deukmejian’s senior staff, developing legislation and policy.

During Wilk’s tenure in the $92,000-a-year PUC post, consumer advocacy groups consistently challenged his efforts to deregulate phone companies. Krause said a big complaint was that Wilk tended to try to push through proposals without allowing for public hearings or analyses of how the actions would affect rates.