Commission is an attorney-at-law of the State and
is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the
Commission (Chapter 756, Acts of 1976).

OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNSEL

John K. Keane, Jr., People's Counsel
Telephone: 659-6046

The Office of the People's Counsel operates
independently from the Public Service Commission
and may participate in all proceedings before the
Commission. People's Counsel represents the inter-
ests of residential consumers of gas, electric, tele-
phone, sewer and water services, and non-commer-
cial users of regulated transportation industries.
The People's Counsel may appear before any
federal or State agency to protect the interests of
residential or noncommercial users (Chapter 756,
Acts of 1976). The Office of the People's Counsel
may use existing staff of the Commission and also
retains additional expert witnesses to testify in
various proceedings before the Commission.

UTILITY CONSUMER ADVISORY
PANEL

Appointed by the president of the Senate: Angela
Beltram, 1985; Leah S. Freedlander, 1985;
George D. Shropshire, 1985; Walter J. Petzold,
1984; three vacancies.

Appointed by the speaker of the House: William M.
Kenny, 1985, Robert C Wathan, 1985; Edward
K. Barney, 1986; Jeffrey F. Liss, 1986; Geuigc
L. Bowler, 1984; Offie dark, 1984.

Ex officio: Frank 0. Heintz, Chairperson, Public
Service Commission; John K. Keane, Jr., People's
Counsel.

Chapter 860, Acts of 1978, created a Utility
Consumer Advisory Panel within the Public Ser-
vice Commission. The Panel advises the Public
Service Commission on general goals for the
development of programs, undertakes studies and
issues reports, and fosters cooperation and under-
standing regarding utility matters among federal,
State, and local agencies, as well as private groups
and consumers. The Panel also advises the People's
Counsel on general goals for the development of
programs and on specific consumer objectives in
order to assist the People's Counsel in formulating
policy in rate cases, investigations, and other
matters.

The Panel consists of thirteen public members
geographically representative of the utility con-
suming public. Seven are appointed by the Presi-

Independent Agencies/387

dent of the Senate, and six by the Speaker of the
House of Delegates. Members serve three-year
terms. The Panel meets at least quarterly with the
commissioners of the Public Service Commission
and the People's Counsel to advise and assist them.

REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE
AGENCY OF APPALACHIAN
MARYLAND

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairperson: Walter V. Hohenstein (for fiscal year
1985)

Donald L. Alexander, President, Allegany
Community College; Nelson P. Guild, President,
Frostburg State College; H. William Mitchell,
Superintendent, Board of Education for Allegany
County; Atlee C. Kepler, President, Hagerstown
Junior College; Claud E. Kitchens, Super-
intendent, Boardof Education for Washington
County; 0. Randall Harman, President, Garrett
Community College; Jerome J. Ryscavage,
Superintendent, Board of Education for Garrett
County: John S. Toll, President, University of
Maryland. Walter V. Hohenstein, alternate.

George E. Allen, Executive Director/Executive
Secretary-Treasurer of the Board

153 Baltimore St.
Cumberland 21502 Telephone: 777-3525
MARCOM: 239-5982

The Regional Education Service Agency of Ap-
palachian Maryland (RESA) was created pursuant
to Education Title 4-121 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1978) and by the approval of the
Attorney General of Maryland of a joint agree-
ment by the eight member institutions. RESA's
purpose is to raise the educational level of all
people in Appalachian Maryland (Allegany, Gar-
rett, and Washington counties) to better enable
them to develop socially, culturally, and economi-
cally. Its member institutions include Allegany
Community College, Frostburg State College, Al-
legany County Board of Education, Hagerstown
Junior College, Washington County Board of
Education, Garrett Community College, Garrett
County Board of Education, and the University of
Maryland. Background information on the agency
appears in two publications: What's a RESA? and
Appalachian Maryland—A Great Place to Learn, A
Great Place to Live. These publications are avail-
able upon request.

The Agency began in 1967 as the Educational
Subcommittee of the Appalachian Regional Com-
mission. It became a formal organization with an