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PEOPLE: Appointments at the Energy Resources and Conservation Board, Alberta Utilities Commission
    (AlbertaIndex, April 14, Monday) --- The Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) and the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) have each announced three senior appointments.

    The provincial government has appointed J.D. Ebbels, George Eynon, and Michael J. Bruni as board members of the ERCB, and Allen Maydonik, Bill Lyttle and Tudor Beattie as commissioners to the AUC.

The three appointments at the ERCB bring to seven the total number of full-time board members, including the chairman. Two vacancies remain. In addition, acting board members may be appointed from time to time, offering the ERCB specific skill sets and abilities as required for specific assignments.

The ERCB ensures that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta’s energy resources take place in a manner that is fair, responsible, and in the public interest.

J.D. (Jack) Ebbels joined the British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General in 1981 and in 1990 became Chief Counsel for the Province on the Nisga’a land claim negotiations, acting as Chief Negotiator on the file from August 1992 until his appointment as Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs in 1996.

He also served as Deputy Minister Responsible for the British Columbia Offshore Oil and Gas Team, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, and as Special Advisor to the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors before retiring from the public service in 2006. Mr Ebbels is currently the Principal of Ebbstide Services Ltd.

George Eynon has over 25 years of technical and management experience in the upstream, exploration and production oil and gas sectors worldwide with a number of companies. He also has about 15 years of energy and management research and consulting experience with several organizations, including the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) for the past several years.

On joining CERI, Mr Eynon assumed responsibility for the Natural Gas Research program and publications and since then has added the responsibilities of business development, media relations, and conferences and training courses.

Michael J. Bruni, Q.C. joined the ERCB in the 1970s and was appointed General Counsel in his first year with the organization. Mr. Bruni also served as the Executive Manager of the ERCB Law Branch until January 2004 when he was appointed Executive Manager of the Energy Team, which was predominantly responsible for operation and implementation of Alberta’s oil and gas regulations.

Mr Bruni has worked closely with the last five Chairs, served as counsel on numerous major hearings and inquiries, and been an Acting Board Member on a number of hearings. He received the Queen’s Counsel honour in January 2000.

“Continued sustainable, responsible oil and gas development is key to Alberta and Canada’s economic well-being,” said Energy Minister Mel Knight. “The addition of these respected board members will help the ERCB respond in a timely fashion to the growing number and complexity of applications.”

AUC’s commissioners to serve from Edmonton and Calgary

Two of the new AUC commissioners, Allen Maydonik and Bill Lyttle, will be based in Edmonton while the third, Tudor Beattie, will serve from Calgary.

Commission members are the decision makers for applications filed with the AUC, an independent quasi-judicial body that regulates the delivery of Alberta’s utility services.

The AUC regulates investor-owned electric, gas and water utilities and some municipally owned electric utilities. It also exercises jurisdiction over the siting of major gas and electric transmission facilities and electric power plants and, as part of its new responsibilities, approves changes to the rules of the Alberta Electric System Operator and acts as the adjudicator of cases dealing with market non-compliance brought to it by the Market Surveillance Administrator.

“Each of the new commissioners brings unique talents and experience that will strengthen our ability to carry out new responsibilities which have been added to our mandate,” said AUC chair Willie Grieve. “Additional commissioners are also necessary to manage the increased number and complexity of applications we are receiving.”

 

“The appointment of three new Commissioners will assist the Alberta Utilities Commission in making timely decisions that meet the needs of Albertans,” added Energy Minister Mel Knight. “It also provides the AUC with additional resources to ensure real and meaningful opportunities for Albertans to participate in the regulatory process.”

 



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