BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor                            2531

(E)    (1) THE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVISORY PANEL SHALL
BE COMPOSED OF 13 PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES WHO SHALL BE
GEOGRAPHICALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UTILITY CONSUMING
PUBLIC OF THIS STATE, EACH OF WHOM SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF

DELEGATES. (2) THE MEMBERS APPOINTED SHALL BE DIVIDED INTO

THREE CATEGORIES AS FOLLOWS:

(I) SEVEN MEMBERS REPRESENTING

RESIDENTIAL CONSUMER GROUPS OR INTERESTS;

(II) THREE MEMBERS REPRESENTING BUSINESS

GROUPS OR INTERESTS;

(III) THREE MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC
SECTOR. PUBLIC OF THIS STATE, 7 OF WHOM SHALL BE APPOINTED

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT

OF THE SENATE, AND 6 OF WHOM SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, WITH THE ADVICE AND

CONSENT OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

(F)    (1) THE TEEM OF MEMBERSHIP IS THREE YEARS,
EXCEPT THAT OF THE ORIGINAL APPOINTEES, FOUR SHALL SERVE
ONE-YEAR TERMS, FOUR SHALL SERVE TWO-YEAR TERMS AND FIVE
SHALL SERVE THREE-YEAR TERMS AS DETERMINED BY LOT WITHIN
EACH CATEGORY. (2) EACH MEMBER SHALL SERVE UNTIL HIS
SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED AND QUALIFIED. AN APPOINTMENT TO A
VACANCY IN AN UNEXPIRED TERM IS LIMITED TO THE REMAINDER OF
THAT TERM. (3) THE MEMBERS OF THE PANEL SHALL SERVE WITHOUT
COMPENSATION, BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL EXPENSES
REASONABLY INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES. (4)
THE PANEL SHALL ANNUALLY ELECT A CHAIRMAN FROM ITS MEMBERS
AND APPOINT A SECRETARY. (5) EACH MEMBER OF THE PANEL SHALL
FILE A FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IK ACCORDANCE WITH
ARTICLE 33 § 29-11.

(G)    (1) THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION (OR HIS DESIGNEE) AND THE PEOPLE'S COUNSEL SHALL
SERVE AS EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVISORY
PANEL, THEY MAY NOT VOTE IN THE PANEL'S DELIBERATIONS. (2)
AN EMPLOYEE OR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF A UTILITY COMPANY MAY
NOT BE APPOINTED AS A MEMBER OF THE PANEL.

(H) THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AUTHORIZE
ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATION BY THE PANEL OR ANY OF ITS
MEMBERS WITH ANY COMMISSIONER OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION REGARDING ANY MATTER THEN PENDING BEFORE THE
COMMISSION.

(I) THE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVISORY PANEL SHALL REPORT
ON ITS ACTIVITIES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY JANUARY 1 OF
EACH YEAR.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1978.

Approved May 29, 1978.